Niger Republic Restricts Entry For Nigerians With ECOWAS Passport
Niger Republic has imposed restrictions on Nigerians travelling with the ECOWAS passport, preventing entry for those without a valid international passport.
This development follows Niger’s recent withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), alongside Mali and Burkina Faso.
Despite maintaining an open border with Nigeria, new immigration measures are being enforced at crossings such as Illela (Nigeria) and Konni (Niger).
Cross-border traders and commuters are now facing challenges, as Nigerien authorities no longer recognise the ECOWAS passport as a valid means of identification.
Alhaji Mansur Abdullah, a frequent trader between the two countries, shared his experience, “I believe there is a move to abolish the ECOWAS passport as a means of travelling here; they have started harassing us if we are entering the country. Some of our people are being turned back home. We learnt that there is a new passport being issued now to everyone coming to Niger Republic to replace the old ECOWAS passport. Some of our people are getting scared of the aftermath of all these issues, which have started to affect our business and trading activities.”
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A source from Taiwan, a state in Niger Republic, confirmed that border officials have started turning back individuals relying solely on the ECOWAS passport, “Some of our people have already been sent home. The authorities insist on their own national passport, making it difficult for traders and travellers.”
Abubakar Isa, a commercial driver operating on the Illela-Konni route, alleged that security officials in Niger are exploiting the situation to extort travellers, “They demand between 5,000 to 10,000 CFA before allowing those with an ECOWAS passport to pass. If you can’t produce Niger’s new identification document, they take you to their office and pressure you to pay a bribe. Once they stop either the vehicle or motorcycle at their border, they take you to their office and make the demand for the passport, which they know we don’t have, they then collect money as bribe before you can be allowed to go.”
However, Alhaji Nuhu Abubakar, a trader in Illela, stated that the withdrawal from ECOWAS has not yet disrupted trade or movement, “We have continued our normal activities as usual, and there is no sign of an impending closure. The border remains open on both the Nigerian and Nigerien sides. We’ve heard rumours that the military junta in Niger is considering restricting motorcycle movement between the two countries, but for now, nothing concrete has been decided.”
Although official communication from the Nigerien government is yet to confirm a complete ban on ECOWAS passports, affected travellers are concerned that the situation could worsen, impacting trade and movement across the border.
Joel Ahofodji, Head of Communication for ECOWAS Commission, mentioned that the regional bloc was unaware of Niger Republic’s policy to bar ECOWAS passport holders.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
