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The Nigeria Airspace Management Agency, NAMA, has affirmed that the closure of land and air borders between ECOWAS countries, and Niger, Nigeria inclusive, along with the establishment of a no-fly zone on all commercial flights to and from Niger, as executed by NAMA, with effect from 0600 UTC on 3rd August 2023, is still very much in force until directive to the contrary emanates from the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is received.
A media statement by NAMA and signed by the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Abdullahi Musa, reminded airmen and the general public that there exist exemptions for “over-flight aircraft passing through Niger airspace, aircraft in a state of emergency, and special flights”.
The statement noted that before an exemption could be enforced, a request to such effect shall be filed with the federal government and authorization received from the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, for the exemption to be actionable and enjoyed by the applicant.
NAMA reiterated in the statement thus, “It is crucial to highlight that the suspension of flights can only be lifted by the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aero Space Development as approved by the Presidency and ECOWAS”.
Succinctly put, NAMA had since “0600 UTC on 3rd August 2023, prohibited aircraft departing from or arriving at aerodromes within the Niamey Flight Information Region (FIR-Nigerien Airspace) from entering Kano FIR until further notice”.
The agency thus elucidated further, “Following standard procedures, the NOTAM had been transitioned into an Aeronautical Information Circular (AIC) on 29th January 2024.
The AIC however, “reiterated the suspension of all commercial flights between Niger and Nigeria, as well as flights overflying Nigeria to Niger”, until further directive from the presidency to the contrary.
Recall that an extraordinary summit by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) was held as a result of the coup d’état in the Republic of Niger on 26th July 2023.
The outcome of the summit, among other resolutions adopted, was the closure of land and air borders between ECOWAS countries and Niger, along with the establishment of a no-fly zone on all commercial flights to and from Niger.
All sanctions as prescribed by the ECOWAS, Nigeria have strictly complied with.
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