President Bola Tinubu has issued directives to reopen Nigeria’s land and air borders with the Republic of Niger, in compliance with the decisions made by the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government during its extraordinary summit on February 24, 2024, in Abuja.
These decisions include lifting economic sanctions against Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea.
The President’s directives entail the immediate lifting of sanctions imposed on Niger, including the reopening of land and air borders between Nigeria and Niger Republic.
Additionally, the ECOWAS no-fly zone on all commercial flights to and from Niger Republic is expected to be lifted.
Furthermore, all commercial and financial transactions between Nigeria and Niger, as well as freezing of service transactions and utility services, including electricity, to Niger Republic, are to be resumed.
The directives also extend to the unfreezing of assets belonging to the Republic of Niger in ECOWAS Central Banks and commercial banks.
Niger Republic is permitted to resume financial assistance and transactions with all financial institutions, particularly EBID and BOAD.
In addition to lifting travel bans on government officials and their families, President Tinubu has also approved the lifting of financial and economic sanctions against the Republic of Guinea.
These sanctions were initially imposed by the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of States and Government due to disruptions of democratically elected governments and the imposition of military rule in these countries.
