Nigeria has announced its decision to close its land border with Niger due to the recent coup that toppled the government in the neighbouring country.
Mr Adewale Adeniyi, acting Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, said the decision to seal all land borders was in compliance with the directive of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to suspend cargo movement until further notice.
Mr Adeniyi disclosed this during a visit on August 4 to the border town of Jibia in the northern state of Katsina bordering Niger, saying the decision was taken in the interest of peace and stability between the two countries.
Mr Adeniyi stressed that as part of measures to ensure 100 per cent compliance with the ECOWAS directive – customs officials will raise awareness among communities around the borders.
Earlier, Nigeria also decided to cut off the power supply to neighboring Niger. Niger depends on 70% of its electricity imported from Nigeria. The situation has begun to affect the power supply in major cities across the country.
At a recent emergency meeting in the Nigerian capital Abuja, ECOWAS leaders agreed to impose financial and travel sanctions on Niger and its military leaders over the coup. Additionally, ECOWAS announced that its member states had agreed to a plan for military intervention in Niger if the coup leaders failed to restore civilian rule.
Also related to the coup in Niger, the ActuNiger news portal reported on August 5 that the coup forces in power in Niger announced the appointment of Brigadier General Moussa Salaou Barmou as Chief of Staff of the country's Armed Forces. Mr. Barmou was previously the head of the Niger Special Forces.
According to baotintuc.vn
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