Tinubu orders reopening of borders with Niger, lifts sanctions

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

This was contained in a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, on Wednesday, March 13, 2024.

Ngelale said Tinubu’s directive was in compliance with the decisions of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government at its extraordinary summit in Abuja on February 24.

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

The presidential spokesman noted that Tinubu has directed that the sanctions imposed on Niger be lifted immediately.

Customs: Decision’ll be taken, only Tinubu can reopen borders

He listed the sanctions to include the 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; and the 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.

Others are the freeze of assets of Niger in ECOWAS Central Banks and the freeze of assets of the Republic of Niger, state enterprises, and parastatals in commercial banks.

Tinubu also directed the suspension of Niger from all financial assistance and transactions with all financial institutions, particularly EBID and BOAD.

President Tinubu also lifted travel bans on government officials and their family members.

The president also approved the lifting of financial and economic sanctions against the Republic of Guinea.

The Star