Tinubu Suspends Border Closure with Niger, Lifts ECOWAS Sanctions

Nearly a year later, President Bill Tinubu directed the opening up of land and air borders with the Republic of Niger following decisions of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government at its extraordinary summit on February 24, 2024, in Abuja.

In a statement made available by Ajuri Ngelale on Wednesday, the president also lifted other sanctions against the country which were put in place when the presidential guards toppled President Mohamed Bazoum and announced Abdrahmane Tchiani as the country’s new leader last year.

It was gathered that ECOWAS leaders agreed to lift economic sanctions against the Republic of Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea.

The President also lifted the no-fly zone on all commercial flights to and from 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 Niger Republic.

Others include; 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 and lifting of financial and economic sanctions against the Republic of Guinea.