The military government in Niger Republic has introduced tighter screening procedures for nearly all goods entering the country from Nigeria, citing heightened security concerns across the Sahel region.
In a circular issued on Monday to customs units, authorities ordered that all goods from Nigeria especially items classified as “miscellaneous” must now be offloaded and inspected at designated entry points before any transit or clearance procedures can continue.
“For security reasons, all goods coming from Nigeria, particularly those in the miscellaneous category, must be unloaded and inspected at the entry offices before any transit formalities,” the directive stated.
However, the regime added an exemption: goods accompanied by verified documentation from the port of origin will only be offloaded at their final destination or during routine customs clearance.
The new restrictions come less than 24 hours after Burkina Faso announced it had detained 11 Nigerian military officers and impounded a Nigerian Air Force cargo plane that made an emergency landing in Bobo-Dioulasso.
According to a statement released by the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) late Monday, Burkinabè authorities launched an investigation immediately after the landing and discovered that the aircraft had entered the country’s airspace without authorisation.
“The investigation revealed the absence of authorisation for the aircraft to fly over Burkinabe territory.
The Confederation of the Sahel States strongly condemns this violation of its airspace and sovereignty,” the AES said.
Following the incident, the AES comprising Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger confirmed that its joint military structures have been placed on maximum alert to respond to any external threats.
The development further deepens tensions between Nigeria and the AES bloc, coming at a time when diplomatic relations in the region are already strained over recent coup attempts, shifting alliances, and security concerns.
