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Niger’s military rulers announced Sunday that they had closed the country’s airspace, warning that any attempt to violate it would meet with an “energetic and immediate response.”

“Faced with the threat of intervention, which is becoming clearer through the preparation of neighbouring countries, Niger’s airspace is closed from this day on Sunday… for all aircraft until further notice,” the country’s new rulers said in a statement.

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.

ECOWAS last Sunday issued Niger’s new military rulers with an ultimatum to stand down within the week or face possible military intervention.

Bazoum was overthrown on July 26 when members of his own guard detained him at the presidency.

On Sunday, President Bola Tinubu hosted governors from states that share borders with Niger Republic.

According to reports, the meeting at the State House in Abuja was part of the President’s deliberations on the situation in Niger.

Ahmed Aliyu (Sokoto), Umar Namadi (Jigawa), Mai Malam Buni (Yobe), Idris Nasir (Kebbi), and Dr Dikko Radda (Katsina) were among the governors present.

The Northern Elites have spoken out against the impending assault on Niger’s military junta, stressing the inevitable consequences for Nigeria.

Tinubu, who also serves as Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States, has given the Niger Republic’s military junta seven days to restore democracy by handing over control to Mohammed Bazoum.

This resulted in a slew of sanctions, including the closing of borders with Niger and the indefinite suspension of airline operations.

The president has written to the National Assembly leadership to request approval for the deployment of military forces to volatile Niger.

The Senate, however, denied the plea while urging Tinubu and other regional leaders to exercise caution in dealing with the political crisis.