PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has directed the opening of Nigeria’s land and air borders with the Niger Republic and the lifting of other sanctions against the country with immediate effect.
This order was in compliance with the decisions of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Authority of Heads of State and Government at its extraordinary summit on February 24, in Abuja, where they agreed to lift economic sanctions against Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea.
Apart from border closure, other sanctions affected by the President directive include no-fly zone on all commercial flights to and from Niger; suspension of all commercial and financial transactions between Nigeria and Niger and freezing of all service transactions, including utility services and electricity to Niger.
The rest are freezing of assets of Niger in ECOWAS central banks and state enterprises and parastatals in commercial banks; suspension of Niger from all financial assistance and transactions with all financial institutions, particularly EBID and BOAD; suspension of travel bans on government officials and their family members.
The President has also approved the lifting of financial and economic sanctions against the Republic of Guinea.
Tinubu, in his X handle, wrote: “Today, I have directed the opening of Nigeria’s land and air borders with the Republic of Niger and the lifting of other sanctions against Niger Republic with immediate effect in compliance with the decisions of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government at its extraordinary summit on February 24, 2024, in Abuja, where we had agreed to lift economic sanctions against the Republic of Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea.
“I have also directed that the following sanctions imposed on the Republic of Niger be lifted immediately- closure of land and air borders between Nigeria and Niger Republic, as well as ECOWAS no-fly zone on all commercial flights to and from Niger Republic.
“Suspension of all commercial and financial transactions between Nigeria and Niger, as well as freeze of all service transactions, including utility services and electricity to Niger Republic.
“Freeze of assets of the Republic of Niger in ECOWAS Central Banks and freeze of assets of the Republic of Niger, state enterprises, and parastatals in commercial banks.
“Suspension of Niger from all financial assistance and transactions with all financial institutions, particularly EBID and BOAD.
“Travel bans on government officials and their family members.
“In addition to the above, I have also approved the lifting of financial and economic sanctions against the Republic of Guinea.”
