Nigeria will soon reopen its border with Niger following the lifting of sanctions imposed by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the Nigerian newspaper Vanguard reported on Saturday, citing an official source.
The ECOWAS sanctions against Niger have already been lifted, with the resumption of electricity supplies to the country as a first step, according to local officials.
For its part, the Nigerian Customs Service has begun preparing the conditions for the resumption of operations at the border crossings between the two countries.
According to the decision announced by ECOWAS, the sanctions imposed on Niger since the military takeover in July 2023 will be lifted. This implies that Niger's borders and airspace will be reopened, financial transactions between ECOWAS countries and Niger will be allowed, and Niger's frozen financial assets will be returned.
On February 24, ECOWAS heads of state decided to partially lift the sanctions imposed on Niger.
"The sanctions will be lifted with immediate effect," ECOWAS Secretary General Omar Alieu Touré said after the bloc's meeting in the Nigerian capital, Abuja, explaining that borders and airspace would be reopened.