The Nigerian government has renewed the ban of commercial flights from Niger Republic to Nigeria and from Nigeria to its Northern boundaries, in accordance with an Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) resolution.
This was following an ECOWAS decision passed in response to the events in Niger Republic on July 26, 2023, when the democratically elected President, Mohamed Bazoum, was deposed in a coup and replaced by a military junta commanded by General Abdourrahamane Tchiani.
This directive (Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) was contained in a letter titled: ECOWAS Restriction on the Republic of Nigeria, from the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) Aeronautical Information Services, dated February 2, 2024, and signed by the Director of Air Traffic Services, Tayo John, on behalf of the agency’s Managing Director and CEO.
The directive stated, “By ECOWAS resolutions, all commercial flights from Niger to Nigeria, or from Nigeria to Niger, or from Niger overflying Nigeria, or any state overflying Nigeria to Niger are suspended.”
It added that “These restrictions do not affect: overflight aircraft through Niger airspace; aircraft in a state of emergency and special flights.”
It disclosed further that “special flights are to obtain authorisation from the permanent secretary, Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace.”
Meanwhile, the military government in Niger and two other countries, Burkina Faso and Mali had announced their immediate withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
The countries’ military regimes announced withdrawal from the regional bloc on Sunday in a joint statement read out on Niger national television on the 28th of January, 2024.
The leaders of the three Sahel nations said it was a “sovereign decision” to leave the Economic Community of West African States “without delay”.
“After 49 years, the valiant peoples of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger regretfully and with great disappointment observe that the (ECOWAS) organisation has drifted from the ideals of its founding fathers and the spirit of Pan-Africanism,” Colonel Amadou Abdramane, Niger junta spokesman, said in the statement.
“The organisation notably failed to assist these states in their existential fight against terrorism and insecurity,” Abdramane added.