Victor Ezeja
Nigeria’s President, Bola Tinubu, has lifted economic sanctions imposed on Niger Republic and also ordered the opening of air and land borders with the West African nations.
According to a statement signed by the president’s spokesperson, Ajuri Ngelale, released on Wednesday, the directive was in compliance with the decisions of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Authority of Heads of State and Government at its extraordinary summit on February 24, 2024, in Abuja.
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At the meeting chaired by President Tinubu as ECOWAS Chairman, the leaders of the regional organisation had agreed to lift economic sanctions against the Republic of Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea.
According to Ngelale, “the President has directed that the following sanctions imposed on the Republic of Niger be lifted immediately:
“(1) 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.
“(2) Suspension of all commercial and financial transactions between Nigeria and Niger, as well as a freeze of all service transactions, including utility services and electricity to Niger Republic.
“(3) 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.
“(4) Suspension of Niger from all financial assistance and transactions with all financial institutions, particularly EBID and BOAD.
“(5) Travel bans on government officials and their family members.”
The statement added that President Tinubu has also approved the lifting of financial and economic sanctions against the Republic of Guinea.
