The Niger Republic has begun new immigration restrictions on Nigerians entering the country, requiring valid international passports to enter and prohibit the use of Economic Community of West African (ECOWAS) passports.
This development comes in Niger’s recent withdrawal of Ecowas along with Mali and Burkina Faso.
Although the border between Nigeria and Niger continues, travelers and cross-border businessmen face significant challenges such as Illela (Nigeria) and Konni (Niger).
According to Punch, a businessman identified as Alhaji Musa Abdullahi lamented the difficulties caused by the new rules.
He said:I believe the Ecowas Passport is to be cancelled as 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 problems that have begun to affect our business and transaction activities”
A source in Taiwan, a state in the Niger Republic, told the platform that border officials began to refuse 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.
A commercial driver on the Illela-Konni route in Abubakar Isa claimed that security officials in Niger have begun to use the situation to blackmail travelers.
“They ask for 5,000 to 10,000 cfa before people with Ecowas Passport are allowed to pass. If you can’t make new identification documents in Niger, they will take you to their office and put pressure on you to bribe.
“Once they stop a vehicle or motorcycle at the border, they take you to their office and ask for a passport demand, they know we don’t, and then they’ll bribe before allowing you to go, transparently He added.
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.
He said “We continued our normal activities as usual, with no signs of ending.
“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.”
Joel Ahofodji, head of communications at the ECOWAS committee, said in a conversation with Punch on The Development that the regional group did not know about the Nigerian Republic’s policy to prohibit Ecowas Passport holders.
