President Bola Tinubu has instructed the immediate reopening of Nigeria’s land and air borders with the Republic of Niger, in a statement signed by Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media & Publicity.

The decision comes in the wake of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government’s extraordinary summit held earlier in February, in Abuja, where leaders unanimously agreed to lift economic sanctions against Mali, Burkina-Faso, Guinea and Niger Republic.

Among the sanctions lifted by President Tinubu’s directive are the closure of land and air borders between Nigeria and Niger, as well as the ECOWAS no-fly zone on all commercial flights to and from Niger Republic.

According to the statement also, 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 have been lifted.

President Tinubu also approved the lifting of financial and economic sanctions against the Republic of Guinea, while declaring that the suspension of financial assistance, transactions, as well as travel bans on government officials and their families have been lifted.

The decision to reopen borders and lift sanctions underscores Nigeria’s role as a key player in regional diplomacy and its dedication to upholding the principles of the ECOWAS bloc.