The borders between Nigeria and Niger are to reopen “with immediate effect”, following the decision of the West African Community to lift its sanctions against the Sahelian country, according to a directive received by the Nigerian immigration services and customs on Thursday March 14 in the morning.
This circular follows the directive, the day before, from the President of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu to reopen the land and air borders between the two countries, “in accordance with the decisions of ECOWAS (the Economic Community of African States). West) of February 24.”
Last month, the heads of state of ECOWAS member countries, meeting in Abuja, decided to lift a large part of the sanctions against Niger, led by soldiers who overthrew the elected president, Mohamed Bazoum, in July 2023.
The Nigerian presidency detailed in its press release on Wednesday that air and land borders should be reopened, financial transactions authorized again, and the accounts and assets of the Nigerien state unfrozen.
1,600 kilometers of borders
Certain transactions between the two countries have already resumed for several days: the supply of electricity from Nigeria to Niger began again at the beginning of March, putting an end to the power cuts that had affected Niger since the military came to power.
But the standoff initiated by the new authorities in Niamey with the ECOWAS member countries is not over yet. The ECOWAS announcement is a “non-event” for Niamey, according to a government source from Agence France-Presse last week.
Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso, which notably turned their backs on France and moved closer to Russia, announced in January that they were leaving ECOWAS without delay. The three countries have grouped together within an Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
Nigeria, which shares 1,600 kilometers of border with its neighbor, is one of Niger’s main trading partners.
