Presidency Laments Exit of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger from ECOWAS, Warns Against Politicizing Border Security

The Presidency has voiced deep concern over the long-term impact of the exit of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), stating that their departure caused a severe regional rupture and dealt a blow to decades of economic integration.

The assessment was delivered by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare, during the 2nd Policy Colloquium on border management and regional cooperation, organized in Abuja by the Ministry of Defence in partnership with Saban Media Services.

According to the presidential aide, the formal pullout of the three Sahelian nations crippled foundational regional instruments, especially the long-standing ECOWAS protocols that guarantee the visa-free movement of citizens and the unhindered flow of goods and commercial services across member countries. He noted that this fragmentation not only disrupted cross-border trade but also led to the birth of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES)—a parallel grouping that presents fresh diplomatic hurdles to cohesive sub-regional governance.

Dare stressed that border management remains a vital frontline for safeguarding regional peace and economic survival. He noted that modern border governance requires a delicate balance: regulatory authorities must facilitate cross-border commerce and legitimate mobility while maintaining vigilance against transnational crime, arms proliferation, and violent extremism.

Addressing domestic debates surrounding trade routes, the presidential spokesman firmly dismissed allegations by opposition leaders, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, claiming that Nigeria’s land borders are locked. Reaffirming clarifications by the Ministry of Interior, Dare stated that Nigeria’s borders are operational, explaining that open borders must never be confused with unregulated borders, as immigration, customs, and security forces must continue to verify entries and exits.

Warning against using national defense architecture as a campaign football, Dare urged political actors to avoid sensationalizing border security for partisan gain, reiterating that safeguarding territorial integrity and regional stability is a collective responsibility that supersedes electoral politics.