- The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has confirmed closure of all borders with the Republic of Niger
- He added that as part of measures to ensure 100 percent compliance, they will sensitise the border communities
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has officially announced the closure of all land borders linking Nigeria with Niger Republic due to the recent coup d’etat in Niger.
NCS acting comptroller-general, Adewale Adeniyi, who addressed the Illela border community in Sokoto state on Friday, said closure of the country’s border is not declaration of war.
According to him, it is in compliance with the directive of the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) which has suspended movement of cargo until further notice.
Adewale said: ‘My mission here is to restate the directives of President Bola Tinubu, being not only the commander in chief of the federal republic of Nigeria but also chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
‘As we are aware, one of the chairman’s responsibilities is to promote trade between members of ECOWAS. But we all know that trade cannot happen in an environment where there is no peace.
‘So the intention of government is to ensure that we leverage perfectly on the nexus between trade and security
‘This development informed the ECOWAS heads of states’ decision to cease trade with our neighbours, the Republic of Niger.
‘However, there are other measures that are ongoing, the diplomatic front, there are engagements going on with the authority of Niger to ensure the crisis is peacefully resolved.
‘So what we are saying is that the closure will be a temporary thing until we have a final resolution of the crisis in Niger Republic. But certainly we are not at war with the Niger Republic and no such declaration has been made.’
The Acting Controller General said the decision was taken for the interest of peace and stability between the two countries.
According to Adewale, he had visited the deputy governor of Katsina state regarding the issue of the sensitisation.
In a swift response to the military coup in Niger Republic, the ECOWAS also enforced a no-flight zone over the country.
Other sanctions from ECOWAS are the suspension of trade, diplomacy and financial services to the country; a no-fly zone has also been declared over Niger and its military hierarchy.
This significant move which includes air and land border closure, is seen as a crucial reaction to the recent ascendancy of the junta, which has stirred significant unrest in the country and poses a threat to political stability within the region.
