Niger: Official reopening of land borders with Nigeria to relaunch trade
The transitional authorities in Niger have made a significant decision by announcing the reopening of land borders with Nigeria starting this Friday at midnight, according to an official source.
The Nigerien Ministry of Interior broadcasted a radio message informing governors of border regions about this measure.
«The reopening of our land border with the Federal Republic of Nigeria will take place this Friday, March 22, 2024, starting from midnight», it declared.
This announcement was followed by a directive urging to «take all necessary measures to strengthen control at entry and exit points at border posts», as reported by several media outlets.
The closure of borders between Niger and Nigeria dates back to July 30 last year. The decision to reopen these passages comes after a pressing request from ECOWAS to lift previously imposed sanctions.
Observers believe that this reopening will facilitate the official resumption of exchanges along the 1,500 km of shared borders between the two countries.
Last week, Nigeria had already announced the reopening of its borders with Niger.
This decision marks a positive turning point in relations between Niger and Nigeria, opening the way to new opportunities for development and prosperity for populations on both sides of the border.
Neil Camara
