Nigerians with ECOWAS passports are now subject to limitations from the Republic of Niger, which forbids access to anybody without a legitimate international passport.
This action comes after the nation, along with Mali and Burkina Faso, recently withdrew from the Economic Community of West African States.
New immigration policies are being put in place at crossings like Illela (Nigeria) and Konni (Niger), even if the country’s border with Nigeria remains open. Because Nigerien authorities do not accept the ECOWAS passport as a legitimate form of identification, cross-border traders and commuters are currently facing challenges.
Alhaji Mansur Abdullah, a trader who frequently travels between the two countries, confirmed the development.
He said, “I believe there is a move to abolish the ECOWAS passport as a means of travelling 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”
According to a source in Taiwan, a state in Niger Republic, border officials have started turning back individuals relying solely on the ECOWAS passport.
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“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, alleged that security officials in Niger have begun exploiting the situation to extort travellers.
“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 allow to go, “ he added.
A trader in Illela, Alhaji Nuhu Abubakar, confirmed that 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.”
Although official communication from the Nigerien government is yet to confirm a complete ban on ECOWAS passports, affected travellers fear that the situation could worsen, disrupting trade and movement across the border.
The head of communication for the ECOWAS Commission, Joel Ahofodji said that the regional group was not aware of the Niger Republic’s policy of excluding holders of ECOWAS passports until he was approached on Monday.
