Tinubu directs reopening of Nigeria’s land, air borders with Niger

President Bola Tinubu has ordered the reopening of Nigeria’s land and air borders with the Republic of Niger. 

Tinubu also directed the lifting of other sanctions imposed on the Republic of Niger by the Federal Government.

This was announced on Wednesday in a statement on the president’s verified X page.

According to the statement, the directive comes “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,” where they had agreed to lift economic sanctions against the Republic of Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea.”

Tinubu had ordered the closure of the air and land border between Nigeria and the Niger Republic after coup plotting military officers announced the overthrow and ouster of the President Mohamad Bazoum-led administration.

Tinubu also announced that he has approved the lifting of financial and economic sanctions against the Republic of Guinea.”

Tinubu’s statement reads, “Today, I have directed the opening of Nigeria’s land and air borders with the Republic of Niger and the lifting of other sanctions against the Niger Republic with immediate effect 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, where we had agreed to lift economic sanctions against the Republic of Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea.

“I have also directed that the following sanctions imposed on the Republic of Niger be lifted immediately:

“Closure of land and air borders between Nigeria and the Niger Republic, as well as the ECOWAS no-fly zone on all commercial flights to and from the Niger Republic.

“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 the Niger Republic.

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

“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.

“In addition to the above, I have also approved the lifting of financial and economic sanctions against the Republic of Guinea.”