JUST IN: Niger Republic opens land border with Nigeria

One week after the authorities of Nigeria Customs Service opened the Illela land border between Nigeria and Niger Republic, the government of Niger Republic on Friday opened its border in Konni for operations.

A source, Nuhu Samaila, who briefed our correspondent from Konni, in Niger Republic, said the border was declared open at exactly 12pm on Friday.

He commended the decision of the leadership of the country, the military junta, for giving a listening hearing to the yearnings of the people by ensuring the border is open.

“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 definitely 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,” he added.

The Federal Government had last week Wednesday restored the supply of electricity to the Republic of Niger following the directive of President Bola Tinubu that Nigeria’s land and air borders with the neighbouring country be opened.

On August 3, 2023, The According reported that the power supply from Nigeria to the Republic of Niger was stopped as part of the sanctions against the neighbouring country by the Economic Community of West African States.

Earlier in August last year, ECOWAS, led by Tinubu, imposed sanctions on Niger following a coup that toppled the country’s President-elect, Mohamed Bazoum, in July 2023. Officers of the Niger Presidential Guard had on July 26, 2023, arrested Bazoum and declared him deposed.

In their reactions, ECOWAS leaders demanded the full restoration of constitutional order in Niger and declared Bazoum’s arrest and detention illegal.

Also, in compliance with the directive of the President on the immediate reopening of the land border with Niger Republic, the Controller, Nigeria Customs Service, Kebbi State command, Iheanacho Ojike, reopened Kamba land border.

While re-opening the border, Ojike said Kamba is a strategic border with a major share in Kebbi State revenue generation.