Nigeria has restored power to the Niger Republic, the first time in seven months.
This comes just a few days after the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) announced the lifting of sanctions against Niger in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja.
ECOWAS said during its 24th session that sanctions will be lifted to alleviate the Nigerien people’s suffering.
Concerning sanctions against Niger, the regional bloc authority “decides to withdraw with immediate effect the following sanctions imposed on the Republic of Niger: Closure of land and air borders between ECOWAS countries and Niger. ECOWAS has established a no-fly zone for all commercial aircraft to and from Niger; All economic and financial activities between ECOWAS Member States and Niger have been suspended; all service transactions, including utility services and power, to the Republic of Niger have been frozen. Freeze of the Republic of Niger’s assets in ECOWAS Central Banks; Freeze of the Niger State, State Enterprises, and Parastatals’ assets in Commercial Banks; Suspension of Niger’s financial assistance and transactions with all financial institutions, particularly EBID and BOAD; and Travel ban on government officials and their families.”
Following the military coup that deposed Mohamed Bazoum’s democratically elected government in July 2023, Nigerian authorities cut power supply to its neighboring country in accordance with ECOWAS provisions.
Seven of Niger’s eight states rely on energy from Nigeria as part of a long-standing commercial deal between the two nations.
For the first time in seven months, electricity was available throughout Wednesday night in all seven states.
Authorities have confirmed the restoration of power following a reconnection at a transmission station in Nigeria’s Kebbi state.
Residents were overjoyed at the news, particularly as Ramadan approached.