President Bola Tinubu has ordered the immediate reopening of Nigeria's land and air borders with the Republic of Niger, along with the lifting of other sanctions against the country. The directive, announced by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, also includes the lifting of financial and economic sanctions against the Republic of Guinea. The move comes in the wake of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government's decision to lift economic and travel sanctions on Niger, Mali, and Guinea at its extraordinary summit on February 24, 2024, in Abuja.
The ECOWAS leaders' agreement led to President Tinubu's directive to lift the following sanctions imposed on the Republic of Niger: the closure of land and air borders between Nigeria and Niger, the ECOWAS no-fly zone on all commercial flights to and from Niger, the suspension of all commercial and financial transactions between the two countries, including utility services and electricity, the freeze of assets of the Republic of Niger in ECOWAS Central Banks and commercial banks, the suspension of Niger from all financial assistance and transactions with financial institutions like EBID and BOAD, and the travel bans on government officials and their families.
President Tinubu's decision reflects a broader regional effort to ease tensions and restore normalcy in the affected countries. By reopening borders and lifting sanctions, Nigeria aims to promote stability and cooperation within the ECOWAS region. The move is expected to facilitate trade, travel, and diplomatic relations between Nigeria and its neighbors, enhancing regional integration and economic growth.
