Senator Adamu Aliero, who represents Kebbi Central, has expressed deep concern about the prolonged closure of the land border between Nigeria and the Republic of Niger. He emphasized the significant economic repercussions on states bordering the affected areas. Aliero, a two-term governor of Kebbi State, voiced his discontent with the border closure, which was initiated in response to a directive from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
In an interview on Arise Television on Tuesday, Aliero underscored the adverse effects of the border closure on communities along the border. He stressed that the local residents were bearing the brunt of the situation. Federal lawmakers from the affected northern states, including Aliero, convened to press the Federal Government to swiftly reopen the border to restore normal business activities.
Aliero revealed that a visit to the border would unveil a multitude of trucks stranded with goods from various countries due to the ECOWAS sanctions. He criticized the closure for causing disruptions, including a breach of the agreement with Niger concerning the dam supplying electricity to Nigeria. Aliero argued that the sanctions, especially the border closure and the suspension of electricity to Niger, were disproportionately impacting ordinary citizens rather than achieving the intended impact on the military junta.
He also noted that some countries were not adhering to the ECOWAS sanctions imposed on Niger, casting doubt on the effectiveness of these measures in achieving the desired outcomes. Aliero’s comments are situated within the context of ECOWAS imposing sanctions on Niger following a military coup that ousted the democratically elected president, leading to a trade ban and the threat of military intervention to restore democracy in the region.
