The Area Controller of the Sokoto/Zamfara Area Command of the Nigeria Customs, Comptroller Kamal Mohammed, has assured stakeholders at the Illela border that all is set for the reopening of the border pending the last order from higher authorities.
Speaking at the Nigeria Customs Illela border Station during a working visit, Mohammed stated that with the lifting of ECOWAS sanctions on Niger Republic and the following restoration of electricity supplies, the border will reopen sooner rather than later.
Accompanied by members of his management team, the Comptroller urged people of the border community to be calm and law-abiding, noting that all government initiatives strive to improve citizens’ well-being.
He had already visited Illela’s traditional rulers, Sarki Rafin Illela, and met with leaders of several teacher’s groups and community leaders, each of whom took turns appealing to the government for assistance due to the country’s severe economic realities.
Following an extraordinary summit on the peace, political, and security situation in the ECOWAS sub-region in Abuja on February 24, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) decided to withdraw some sanctions against the Niger Republic.
Following the July 26, 2023 military coup in Niger Republic that deposed President Mohamed Bazoum, ECOWAS placed a number of sanctions on the country, including border restriction.
Some of the sanctions lifted include the closure of land and air borders between all ECOWAS countries and Niger Republic; a no-fly zone for all commercial flights to and from Niger Republic; the suspension of all commercial and financial transactions between ECOWAS member states and Niger Republic; and the freezing of all service transactions, including utility services, among others.