On the foreign Scene
The military government in Niger Republic has reiterated its ban on flights originating from Nigeria, reaffirming that Nigerian flights will not be permitted to land in Niger.
The restriction does not extend to commercial flights transiting through Nigerien airspace without landing.
This directive was outlined in a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) issued by Niger’s airspace management authority on February 6, 2024.
Nigeria, in response, reasserted its ban on flights to and from Niger through a NOTAM, citing adherence to ECOWAS resolutions.
According to Niger’s NOTAM, the country’s airspace remains open to national and international commercial flights, except those involving Nigeria. Nonetheless, it emphasized the mandatory use of surveillance and communication equipment for all flights within Nigerien airspace.
Additionally, military, operational, and special flights are still prohibited in Niger’s airspace unless authorized in advance by relevant authorities.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s airspace management agency had recently issued a NOTAM enforcing restrictions on flights to and from Niger, aligning with ECOWAS resolutions against the country.
The Nigerian directive, conveyed through a letter from the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), specified the suspension of commercial flights between the two nations and over their respective airspaces.
Expections were , however, made for overflight aircraft, emergency situations, and special flights, subject to authorization.
Following the coup in July 2023, ECOWAS resolutions included sanctions such as flight bans against Niger, reflecting regional efforts to address the political situation in the country.
