Nigeria Reinstates Borders and Lifts Sanctions On Niger

iexclusivenews -In a landmark decision, President Bola Tinubu has announced the reopening of Nigeria’s land and air borders with the neighboring Niger Republic.

This move, aligning with the Economic Community of West African States’ (ECOWAS) guidelines, signifies a step towards bolstering regional integration and cooperation.

ECOWAS Summit Spurs Policy Shift

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, revealed that this policy change follows the resolutions from the ECOWAS extraordinary summit held on February 24, 2024, in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja.

The summit’s outcomes have prompted an immediate lift of various sanctions previously imposed on West African nations.

Sanctions Lifted: A Detailed Overview

President Tinubu’s directive encompasses the immediate removal of several restrictive measures, including:

– The cessation of the land and air border closure between Nigeria and the Niger Republic.

– The annulment of the ECOWAS no-fly zone affecting commercial flights to and from the Niger Republic.

– The reinstatement of commercial and financial transactions between the two nations, previously suspended.

– The restoration of service transactions, such as utility services and electricity supply to the Niger Republic.

– The unfreezing of the Republic of Niger’s assets held in ECOWAS Central Banks and commercial banks, affecting state enterprises and parastatals.

– The lifting of the suspension of Niger from financial assistance and transactions with key financial institutions, notably EBID and BOAD.

– The revocation of travel bans imposed on government officials and their family members.

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Regional Dynamics Post-Coup: ECOWAS’s Stance

The ECOWAS’s decision comes in the wake of the military coup in the Niger Republic on July 26, 2023, which led to the ousting of President Mohamed Bazoum. Following the coup,

ECOWAS had enforced a series of sanctions on the country.

However, recent developments have seen a partial relaxation of these measures, with the political and targeted sanctions on the Niger Republic being the exception until now.

Full Statement from the State House

For a comprehensive understanding of the recent developments, please refer to the full statement issued by the State House below:

STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE

Nigeria Reopens Borders with Niger, Revokes Sanctions

President Bola Tinubu has mandated the immediate reopening of Nigeria’s land and air borders with the Republic of Niger, alongside the revocation of other sanctions.

This directive is in strict adherence to the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government’s decisions during the extraordinary summit on February 24, 2024, in Abuja.

The sanctions lifted against the Republic of Niger include:

1. The reopening of land and air borders for seamless transit.

2. The resumption of all commercial and financial dealings.

3. The unfreezing of assets within ECOWAS Central Banks and commercial entities.

4. The reinstatement of financial assistance and transactions with major financial bodies.

5. The cancellation of travel restrictions on officials and their relatives.

Additionally, President Tinubu has sanctioned the removal of financial and economic sanctions against the Republic of Guinea, signaling a new chapter in West African diplomacy.

This strategic move by Nigeria not only fosters regional solidarity but also paves the way for enhanced economic growth and stability within the West African community.