Nigeria lifts sanctions on Niger, reopens land, air borders
Nigeria has reached a detente with neighbouring Niger as reopens its land and air borders. Nigeria made the initial decision in its bid to pressure the Nigerien military junta to annul its coup and restore constitutional democracy. However, that has so far not happened.
On Wednesday, President Bola Tinubu issued the fresh order, signaling improved relations with the landlocked country, which shares cultural, religious, and cross-cultural ties with Nigeria’s northern region.
“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,” says a statement issued by president’s media adviser Ajuri Ngalale.
The President also ordered resumption of “all commercial and financial transactions between Nigeria and Niger” and unfroze “all service transactions, including utility services and electricity to Niger Republic.”
Other decisions include unfreezing “assets of the Republic of Niger in ECOWAS Central Banks, state enterprises, and parastatals and in commercial banks.”
President Tinubu also lifted the suspension of “all financial assistance and transactions with all financial institutions, particularly EBID and BOAD” to Niger Republic. In addition, the Nigerian Government also lifted the travel ban on government officials and their family members.
“President Tinubu has also approved the lifting of financial and economic sanctions against the Republic of Guinea,” the statement added.
