Niger Republic airspace closure will increase cost of flights — Atedo Peterside

Atedo Peterside, Nigerian entrepreneur, investment banker, and economist, has said Niger Republic airspace closure would bring further hardship to Nigerians, especially those who intend to travel to Europe.

Niger had shut its airspace indefinitely over the invasion threat from the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS), which gave the military junta one month to reinstate President Mohamed Bazoum.

But in a post on his social media page, Peterside noted that the case may be worsened if Burkina Faso or Mali join Niger in declining overflight rights to Nigerian-bound aircraft.

He wrote, “Closure of Niger Republic airspace will increase the cost of flights from Nigeria to Europe. If Burkina Faso and/ or Mali join Niger in declining overflight rights to Nigerian-bound aircraft, then inbound and outbound flights from Nigeria to Europe will become very expensive.”

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Daily Trust correspondents who are now at the Nigerian borders with Niger in Sokoto, Katsina, Jigawa and Borno states, said though there was no fight, millions of people are in dire straits due to fear of the unknown occasioned by high cost or shortage of basic necessities of life like food and drugs.

The residents, Nigerians and Nigeriens alike, said they detest war and called on ECOWAS to have a rethink in line with a clarion call by prominent groups and individuals.

ECOWAS has not yet announced what its next move will be after the expiration of the deadline given to the coupists.

The military regime in Niger, which declared their Commander General, Abdourahamane Tchiani the new head of state, has vowed not to bow to outside pressure.