Nigeria recorded a total number of 63 accidents and serious incidents in the aviation sector between 2000 and 2014, a Ministerial Committee on Nigerian Aviation Industry Aircraft Accident Reports Status disclosed in Abuja on Tuesday.
Presenting the report to the Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka, the Senior Special Assistant to the President, and Chairman of the Committee, Captain Victor Iruobe said the Committee in the course of its assignment discovered that 63% of past safety recommendations had been implemented and closed, 14% partially implemented while 23% were yet to be implemented and still open.
According to the Committee Chairman, the delays in the implementation of the safety recommendations were as a result of poor inter-agency communication, lack of complimentary cooperation in the system, inadequate trained manpower, faulty employment process, inadequate funding and defiance to change.
He disclosed that within the period under review (2000-2014), Air Traffic grew by 227%, from 121,252 in the year 2000 to 275,827 in 2013, while the total number of accidents and serious incidents recorded within the same period was 63.
Captain Iruobe also disclosed that the Committee observed that greater number of the accidents and serious incidents recorded occurred in non-scheduled (General Aviation) operations rather than with scheduled (Commercial Air Transport) operations. The Committee, he said, also discovered that the current regulatory focus is on Commercial Air Transport Operations instead of General Aviation Operations which has more activities and thus, greater exposure to accidents and serious incidents.
While expressing gratitude for the opportunity to be of service to the nation, the Chairman of the Committee said the measures that have been recommended would require bold political will and strict adherence to Civil Aviation Regulations, including enhanced and prioritized funding, recruitment of the right manpower with appropriate training and synergized will of the leadership of all stakeholders in the Aviation sector.
Responding, the Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka, said Aviation remains a sector that makes no provision for any failure margin not matter how low, and therefore sees non-implementation of accident investigation reports as an invitation to disaster.
He commended the Committee which he set up in November 2014 for going beyond the call of duty to accomplish the task of making their report ready in record time, promising that the report would be thoroughly reviewed and implemented.
The Minister also used the occasion to direct the immediate filling or closure of all open drainages near airport runways as they constitute a serious menace to take-off and landing operations.
The Committee was inaugurated on November 3rd 2014 with the mandate to unearth the status of the Nigeria aviation industry aircraft accident reports with membership drawn from the Ministry of Aviation, its agencies and the private sector.
