Atedo Peterside Reacts As Niger Republic Closes Airspace

Foremost Nigerian economist, Atedo Peterside, has said condemned the closure of the airspace by the military junta in Niger Republic.

Naija News reported that the coup leaders, on Sunday, announced the closure of the country’s airspace, warning that any attempt to violate it would meet with an “energetic and immediate response”.

The announcement came as the deadline from the West African bloc ECOWAS for them to hand back power to the democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum was due to expire.

Reacting to the development in a Twitter post on Monday, Peterside said the closure would further bring hardship to Nigerians, especially those who intend to travel to Europe.

The investment banker asserted that the case might be worsened if Burkina Faso or Mali joined 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.

“The military junta in Niger Republic, over the weekend, closed the country’s airspace, warning that any attempt to violate it would be met with an “energetic and immediate response.”