Nigeria closes land border with Niger amid coup

Aug 5, 2023 - 20:11

Participants pose for a photo at an emergency meeting of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in Abuja, Nigeria, on July 30, 2023. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), a regional group of 15 countries, agreed to impose sanctions on Niger's military leaders involved in a recent coup at an emergency meeting held here on Sunday. (ECOWAS/Handout via Xinhua)

LAGOS, Aug. 5 (Xinhua) --

Nigeria has announced the decision to close its land border with Niger due to the recent coup in Niger.

Adewale Adeniyi, acting comptroller general of the Nigeria Customs Service, said the decision for the total blockage of the land border is to comply with the directive of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to suspend the movement of cargo until further notice.

Adeniyi revealed this during a visit to the border town of Jibia in the northern state of Katsina bordering Niger on Friday, saying the decision was taken in the interest of peace and stability between the two countries.

He said as part of measures to ensure 100 percent compliance with ECOWAS's directive, the customs officials will sensitize the border communities.

The ECOWAS leaders, in a recent urgent meeting in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria, agreed to impose financial and travel sanctions on Niger and Niger's military leaders involved in the coup.