Mohammed Shosanya
President Bola Tinubu has directed the opening of Nigeria’s land and air borders with the Republic of Niger.
The President also ordered the lifting of other sanctions against the country with immediate effect.
A statement by his media aide, Ajuri Ngelale, noted that this directive is in compliance with the decisions of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government at its extraordinary summit on February 24, 2024, in Abuja.
The ECOWAS leaders had agreed to lift economic sanctions against the Republic of Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea.
Among other sanctions imposed on the Republic of Niger which has now been lifted are 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.
He also lifted 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.
He directed that the freezing of assets of the Republic of Niger in ECOWAS Central Banks and freezing of assets of the Republic of Niger, state enterprises, and parastatals in commercial banks be lifted too.
“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 also stand lifted,” the Statement added.
The gesture was also extended to Republic of Guinea with the lifting of financial and economic sanctions,the statement added.
