ECOWAS’ blunder and implication of Niger’s Airspace closure on Nigerians, Africans

As the one week ultimatum given by Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) regional bloc to restore toppled President Mohamed Bazoum to power ended on Sunday this week. The military junta in Niger Republic has closed the country’s airspace following the insistant threat of military intervention by ECOWAS. The question one ponders is that hope the President of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu who is also the Chairman of ECOWAS  is not shooting his citizens on their legs considering the fact that the closure of the Niger’s airspace has affected air flights movement from Nigeria to European and Asians countries thereby crippling business activities? At last, the Niger Coupists ‘Don hold our neck leading to the suspension of flight operations by European countries to the African Continent.

Pertinently, it is worthy to emphasise that the airfare from Nigeria to London which is the most widely travelled country by citizens and other European countries have skyrocketed to about N5million per air passenger because the widely used route cannot be accessed today.

Precisely, on Monday the European carriers reported disruptions and suspended flights across the African continent after Niger’s junta had closed its airspace on Sunday. The junta braced for a response from the West African regional bloc after ignoring its deadline to reinstate the country’s ousted president or face the threat of military intervention.

The disruption adds to a band of African airspace facing geopolitical upheavals, including in Libya and Sudan, with some flights facing up to 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) in detours. “The closure of Niger’s airspace dramatically widens the area over which most commercial flights between Europe and southern Africa cannot fly,” tracking service FlightRadar24 said in a blog post.

Air France has suspended flights to and from Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso and Bamako in Mali until Friday, the company said Monday, with longer flight times expected in the West African region. A spokesperson added that Air France expected longer flight times from sub-Saharan hub airports, and that flights between Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris and Accra in Ghana were set to operate nonstop.

Though, an aviation analyst James Halstead said that airlines would mostly have to find alternative routes, and that difficulties should be limited given the small number of African air connections.

According to him, he is not sure this is huge disruption, saying “It will affect routes from Europe to Nigeria and South Africa and probably from the Gulf of the Ethiopia to West Africa.”

The Spokespeople for Lufthansa and Brussels Airlines said that flight times could be between 1½ and 3½ hours longer for rerouted flights.

British Airways in an emailed statement said that it “apologised to those customers affected for the disruption to their journeys,” and that it was working hard to get them on their way again as quickly as possible.

Thousands of coup supporters had gathered on Sunday in the capital Niamey to cheer on the CNSP. The venue was draped in Russian flags and supporters carried portraits of CNSP leaders.

Fortunately, some countries like Mali and Burkina Faso resolved yesterday to send a joint delegation to Niamey, the capital of Niger, in a show of solidarity, the Malian army said. “Burkina Faso and Mali are sending a delegation to Niamey to show the solidarity of the two countries with the brotherly people of Niger,” the army tweeted.

The transitional governments of Burkina Faso and Mali, which were established after the military took power by force in 2020 and 2022 in the two countries, also declared their support for the Nigerien soldiers who overthrew President Mohamed Bazoum. The two countries also warned that any military intervention in Niger would be considered as a declaration of war against them and would lead to the withdrawal of Burkina Faso and Mali from the ECOWAS.

The Northern Senators in the 10th National Assembly have cautioned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu against using military intervention in resolving the crisis in Niger. Sen. Suleiman Sumaila, the spokesperson for Northern Senators Forum, disclosed this in a statement on Friday. The group of Senators urged the President to adopt political and diplomatic means to restore democratic government in Niger. According to NSF, military intervention in Niger would affect Sokoto, Kebbi, Katsina, Zamfara, Jigawa, Yobe and Borno.

The emphasis, however, should be on political and diplomatic means to restore democratic government in the Niger Republic. We also take exception to the use of military force until other avenues, as mentioned above, are exhausted, as the consequences will be casualties among the innocent citizens who do their daily business. Besides, about seven northern states with a border with the Niger Republic will be negatively affected, namely Sokoto, Kebbi, Katsina, Zamfara, Jigawa, Yobe and Borno.

Similarly, in a reaction to the Niger crisis yesterday, a prominent northern group, Gamji Members Association (GAMA), opposed military rule in any African country and hailed the efforts of President Bola Tinubu and ECOWAS at resolving the imbroglio. GAMA said military rule is no longer fashionable and called for an immediate restoration of democratic rule in the West African country.

While restating its support for any effort towards the promotion and protection of democratic rule in the African continent, the association, however, cautioned against military action in resolving the Niger Republic’s crisis.

GAMA, made its position known in a statement issued in Ilorin, Kwara State yesterday. The statement was signed by GAMA’s President-General, Alhaji Mohammed Tunde Akanbi, and Director of Publicity, Alhaji Abdullahi Olesin noted that democracy remains the best form of government which all and sundry, including the military, should allow to flourish in Africa, despite the perceived shortcomings of the elected representatives at all levels. It added that if there is the need for a change in leadership of any African country, it should be through balloting and not barrel of guns, urging Africans and their friends all over the World to allow Africa’s democracy to evolve.  We should also note that the security situation in Nigeria is fragile, hence, the need to guard against military options in Niger Republic, more so that Nigeria shares a border with Niger Republic

The GAMA implored African leaders to ensure good governance across the continent and concentrate on providing the citizens’ needs, including infrastructure needed to achieve economic buoyancy which will in turn ensure the wellbeing of the people.

At this critical stage that both the federal government and citizens are trapped by the Niger’s Junta hardened decision of closing their airspace that connects most of the African Continent route, President Tinubu and his ECOWAS team should recant the decision immediately to factor a diplomatic means of resolving the situation amicably. This is also a lesson for us to be mindful as the acclaimed ‘Giant of Africa’ can be squeezed by a smaller neighbouring country like Niger with the Airspace closure punishment.

Unfortunately, Coup or military taking over of any country in Africa shouldn’t be encouraged, advocated as the entire world is shrinking into democracy but the government especially Nigeria should deliver true dividends of democracy to the masses. Elimination of corruption, discrimination in the system should be prioritised in the local, states and federal level for the citizens to witness a new lift and better standard of living to catch the rest of the globe.