Senate summons Aviation Minister, heads of NCAA, FAAN, AIB, others over air mishaps

The Senate has summoned the Minister of State for Transportation, Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, to appear before it at plenary to give a full briefing on the steps being taken to minimise human errors and avoid preventable air crashes in the country.

Also to appear before the Senate are heads of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA; Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, FAAN; Accident Investigation Bureau, AIB, and every other relevant agencies in the aviation industry.


The Senate also urged the Minister to direct all relevant agencies to immediately conduct a maintenance and airworthiness audit on all commercial aircraft operating within the Nigerian airspace and train personnel operating within the industry.

The resolutions of the Senate yesterday, were sequel to a motion by Senator Gbenga Ashafa (APC, Lagos East).

The motion was co-sponsored by Senators Oluremi Tinubu, Lagos Central; Ibn Na Allah, Kebbi South; Mao Ohuabunwa, Abia North; Solomon Olamilekan, Lagos West; Babajide Omoworare, Osun West; Baba Garbai, Borno Central; Andy Uba, Anambra South; Abdulfatai Buhari, Oyo North, and Chukwuka Utazi, Enugu North.

Others are Senators James Manager, Delta South; Sabi Abdullahi, Niger North; Kabiru Marafa, Zamfara Central; Rafiu Ibrahim, Kwara South; Adesoji Akanbi, Oyo South, and Ahmed Ogembe, Kogi Central.

Senator Ashafa had said the Senate observes that on February 20, an aircraft overshot the runway upon landing at the Port Harcourt Airport.

He also recalled that a few weeks before, on February 7, the emergency door of an aircraft fell off upon landing.