Niger now bars Nigerians traveling with the ECOWAS passport from entering the neighboring country.
It has also barred those without a valid international passport not to enter the country.p
Niger, which withdrew from the Economic Community of West African States alongside Mali and Burkina Faso, has been implementing new immigration measures at crossings such as Illela (Nigeria) and Konni (Niger).
A trader who frequently travels between the two countries, Alhaji Mansur Abdullah, who revealed this, said, cross-border traders and commuters were being turned back by Nigerien authorities who refuse to recognize the ECOWAS passport as a valid means of identification.
He said, “I believe there is a move to abolish the ECOWAS passport as a means of traveling here; they have started harassing us if we are entering the country.
“Some of our people are being turned back home. We learnt that there is a new passport being issued now to everyone coming to Niger Republic to replace the old ECOWAS passport.
“Some of our people are getting scared of the aftermath of all these issues, which have started to affect our business and trading activities”
A source in Taiwan, a state in Niger Republic, said the country’s border officials have started turning back individuals relying solely on the ECOWAS passport.
“Some of our people have already been sent home. The authorities insist on their own national passport, making it difficult for traders and travelers,” he explained.
Abubakar Isa, a commercial driver on the Illela-Konni route, says Niger security officials have begun exploiting the situation to extort travelers.
“They demand between 5,000 to 10,000 CFA before allowing those with an ECOWAS passport to pass. If you can’t produce Niger’s new identification document, they take you to their office and pressure you to pay a bribe..
“Once they stop either the vehicle or motorcycle at their border, they take you to their office and make the demand for the passport, which they know we don’t have, they then collect money as bribe before you can be allowed to go, “ he added.
A trader in Illela, Alhaji Nuhu Abubakar, said Niger’s withdrawal from ECOWAS has had no immediate impact on trade or movement across the border.
He said, “We have continued our normal activities as usual, and there is no sign of an impending closure.
“The border remains open on both the Nigerian and Nigerien sides. We’ve heard rumours that the military junta in Niger is considering restricting motorcycle movement between the two countries, but for now, nothing concrete has been decided.”
Head of Communication ECOWAS Commission, Joel Ahofodji, said was not aware of Niger Republic’s policy to bar passport holders.
