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The Niger Republic has begun to impose restrictions on Nigerians, prohibiting entry of persons without a valid international passport.
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The move comes in Niger with Mali and Burkina Faso to withdraw from the West African economic circle, with new immigration measures being implemented at border crossings.
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Affected travelers fear that the situation could worsen, destroying the borders of trade and action.
The Niger Republic has begun to impose restrictions on Nigerians, prohibiting entry of persons without a valid international passport.
The move comes after the country’s recent withdrawal from the Economic Community of West Africa along with Mali and Burkina Faso.
Despite maintaining an open border with Nigeria, new immigration measures are still being implemented at intersections such as Illilan (Niger) and Conni (Niger).
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Cross-border merchants and commuters are now facing difficulties as Nigerian authorities refuse to view Ecowas Passport as an effective means of identification.
The development was confirmed by Alhaji Mansur Abdullah, a businessman who often travels between the two countries. He said: “I believe that canceling Ecowas Passport is a means of travel; if we enter the country, they have started harassing us.
“Some of our people were turned home. We learned that new passports are now issued to everyone who came to the Niger Republic to replace the old Ecowas passport.
“Some of us are afraid of the consequences of all these issues that have begun to affect our business and transaction activities.”
According to a Taiwan source, border officials in a state in the Niger Republic have begun to reject individuals who rely solely on Ecowas Passport.
“Some of our people have been sent home. The authorities stick to their national passports, making it difficult for businessmen and travelers to do this,” he explained.
Abubakar Isa, a commercial driver on the Illela-Konni route, claimed that security officials in Niger have begun to use the situation to extort travelers.
“They asked for 5,000 to 10,000 cfa before people with Ecowas Passport are allowed to pass.
“If you can’t make a new identification document in Niger, they will take you to their office and put pressure on you to bribe. Once they park a vehicle or motorcycle at the border, they will take you to their office, and The need to ask for a passport, they know we don’t, and then they’ll bribe before they can allow you to go.”
A businessman at Illela of Alhaji Nuhu Abubakar confirmed that Niger’s withdrawal from Ecowa has no direct impact on cross-border trade or action. “We continued our normal activities as usual, with no signs of an upcoming closure,” he said.
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“The border remains open between Nigeria and Nigeria. We have heard rumors that the military government in Niger is considering limiting motorcycle sports between the two countries, but for now, there is no specific decision yet.”
Although official communications from the Nigerian government have not confirmed a complete ban on Ecowas passports, affected travelers are worried that the situation will worsen, undermining cross-border trade and action.
ECOWAS Commission Director Joel Ahofodji said in contact with Monday that the regional group was not aware of the Nigerian Republic’s policies to ECOWAS PASSPORT holders.
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