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Nigerian President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday (13th March), directed that Nigeria’s land and air borders with the Republic of Niger should be opened. He also announced the lifting of other sanctions against the country with immediate effect. This directive complies with the decisions of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government at its extraordinary summit on February 24, 2024, in Abuja.
All Niger assets frozen by the ECOWAS Central Bank will also be lifted based on the presidential order. Nigeria, in compliance with an ECOWAS resolution, imposed the sanctions on Niger following the coup last July that led to the ouster of President Mohamed Bazoum.
With the directives, Nigeria’s 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, are expected to be reopened. The President also directed the lifting of the suspension of all commercial and financial transactions between Nigeria and Niger, as well as the freezing of all service transactions, including utility services and electricity to Niger Republic.
The President also ordered the unfreezing of assets of the Republic of Niger in ECOWAS Central Banks as well as the unfreezing of assets of the Republic of Niger, state enterprises, and parastatals in commercial banks. The directives also said that Niger Republic can again enjoy all financial assistance and transactions with all financial institutions, particularly EBID and BOAD. The directives also mean that the travel bans on government officials and their family members have been lifted.
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ECOWAS insisted on the restoration of civil rule and the release of Bazoum. However, the Niger putschists rejected the proposals by ECOWAS and instead announced, alongside Mali and Burkina Faso, their exit from ECOWAS.ECOWAS leaders last month met in Abuja where they resolved to lift all the sanctions imposed on the three countries and continue to engage in dialogue with the putschists.
