Nigeria Opens Land, Air Borders With Niger Republic, Lifts Other Sanctions

President Bola Tinubu has directed the opening of Nigeria’s land and air borders with the Republic of Niger and the lifting of other sanctions against the country with immediate effect.

This was contained in a statement on Wednesday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale.

“President Tinubu has also approved the lifting of financial and economic sanctions against the Republic of Guinea,” he said.

“Closure of land and air borders between Nigeria and the Niger Republic, as well as the ECOWAS no-fly zone on all commercial flights to and from the Niger Republic.

“Suspension of all commercial and financial transactions between Nigeria and Niger, as well as a freeze of all service transactions, including utility services and electricity to the 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,” the statement read.

Tinubu’s directive comes just days after the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government lifted economic and travel sanctions on Niger, Mali, and Guinea at its extraordinary summit on February 24, 2024, in Abuja.

ECOWAS leaders had agreed to lift economic sanctions against the Republic of Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea.