Nigeria’s land border with Niger Republic is opened.
Comment
The government of the Niger Republic opened its border in Konni for business on Friday, one week after the Nigeria Customs Service authorities opened the Illela land border between Nigeria and the Niger Republic.
The border was officially opened on Friday at precisely noon, according to a source, Nuhu Samaila, who briefed our correspondent from Konni, in the Niger Republic.
He applauded the military junta for deciding to ensure that the border remains open in response to the people’s desires.
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He further added, “It is a commendable effort, at least by the government, to have done the needful at last.
“It was our collective prayer that this border too should be reopened after the Nigeria side was declared open.
“I want to believe that this will help a lot in the improvement of the economy of these two countries, as it will facilitate more trading activities between Nigeria and Niger Republic.”
Following President Bola Tinubu’s directive to open Nigeria’s air and land borders with the neighboring country, the Federal Government restored the Republic of Niger’s access to electricity last Wednesday.
According to a report published in The PUNCH on August 3, 2023, the Economic Community of West African States imposed sanctions on Nigeria, which included cutting off power supplies to the neighboring Republic of Niger.
Following a coup that overthrew Niger’s president-elect, Mohamed Bazoum, in July 2023, ECOWAS, led by Tinubu, imposed sanctions on the country earlier in August of last year. On July 26, 2023, Bazoum was deposed by Niger Presidential Guard officers who had arrested him.
Reacting, ECOWAS leaders ruled Bazoum’s arrest and detention unlawful and called for the complete restoration of Niger’s constitutional order.
Additionally, following the President’s directive regarding the prompt reopening of the land border with the Niger Republic, Iheanacho Ojike, Controller of the Nigeria Customs Service at Kebbi State command, reopened the land border at Kamba.
Ojike stated during the border’s reopening that Kamba is a strategically important border that contributes significantly to Kebbi State’s revenue generation.
