Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger May Close Airspace against Nigerian Flights, Aviation Stakeholders Warn

Following the official resignation of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), after alleging marginalisation from Nigeria’s President who is the Chairman of ECOWAS Bloc, stakeholders in the aviation industry have warned that the three countries may close their airspace against flights emanating from Nigeria.

The stakeholders are of the view that should the three African countries make do their threats to withdraw their membership from ECOWAS, they will likely close their airspace against Nigeria, a development that will cause adverse effect on the Nigerian economy, since the three countries occupy about 50 per cent of ECOWAS airspace.

According to them, if Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger should close their airspace against Nigeria, flights from Nigeria will have to spend extra two hours to circumvent these countries, which will be at huge cost for both scheduled, cargo and private flights going in and out of Nigeria.

Former Acting Managing Director, Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Mr. Matthew Pwajok, told THISDAY that one of the ECOWAS sanctions against Niger Republic was that no flight emanating from Nigeria would land in Niger, except in special cases and it must have the approval of the National Security Adviser and the sanction was conveyed to the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA).

According to him, if these three countries withdraw from ECOWAS, Niger will want to revenge against Nigeria by closing its airspace to flights to and from Nigeria, which will cost the airlines huge amount of money and also the aviation agencies, especially NAMA, which will lose over-fliers revenue, paid in foreign currency and which is the base of the agency’s income.

“The challenge we will have is, if they decide to close their airspace against flights from and to Nigeria it will adversely affect our Europe-bound flights, which usually fly through Niger and this will be a serious challenge both for the airlines and for aviation agencies, especially NAMA. Flights from southern Africa fly though Nigeria and we generate revenue from over flier charges, but if they close their airspace, these flights won’t be flying through our own airspace to connect to theirs and to Europe.

“So, NAMA’s revenue will drop. ECOWAS decision is that no flight from Niger will be allowed in Nigeria and no flight in Nigeria will be allowed in Niger, except technical stops like small planes and helicopters can stop there and refuel but there must be approval from the National Security Adviser,” Pwajok said.

“Currently West African nationals travel across the states without visa, they move goods and services by road, sea and air as members of ECOWAS community but if the aforementioned countries withdraw, they can block free passage of flights destined to Nigeria.

“Also, Nigerians will not be able to visit the countries without visa and goods from Nigeria may be barred from being sold in these countries. Most goods produced in Nigeria, including beverages, foot-wears, clothes, electric cables and others are sold across the nations that made up the ECOWAS states, but the withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger will disorganise the ECOWAS protocol on trade, transport and diplomatic corporation, “Pwajok further said.