Sequel to a motion raised by the chairman of the Senate Committee on Aviation, Hope Uzodinma on the recent plane crash belonging to Associated Airlines in Lagos, the Senate on Tuesday summoned the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah to appear before it on October 22.
In the same vein, the Senate summoned the Chief Executive Officers of parastatals and agencies under the Ministry of Aviation- the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), and Nigeria Airspace Management Authority (NAMA).
While condemning the increasing rate of air mishaps, Uzodinma noted that the country in the last two and a half years had recorded seven air mishaps while two were averted.
“The resurgence of plane crashes in the country since 2011 is suggestive of a deep seated system problem that must be unraveled and resolved in order to avert further loss of lives,” he said.
Also contributing, Enyinnaya Abaribe (PDP-Abia) lamented inability of regulatory agencies to effectively enforce regulations guiding the industry.
He said, “There is systemic problems bordering on the manner the regulators are doing their job. We need to ensure that our investigation goes beyond the surface dressing”.
George Sekibo (PDP- Rivers) had this to say, “The aviation committee has more work to do than the entire Senate. We need to support it the (committee) by engaging technical experts to certify the status of all aircrafts operating within our aviation industry”.
On his part, Bukola Saraki (PDP-Kwara) opined that the Senate should persuade government to implement reports of all previous air crashes with a view to ensuring that those found culpable are sanctioned.
His words, “All the reports of previous investigations must be implemented. Until people are held responsible and accountable for their negligence, nothing is going to change”.
Others who spoke were Banabas Gemade (Benue), Oluremi Tinubu (APC-Lagos) and Smart Adeyemi (PDP-Kogi).
Adeyemi said, “I gathered that the plane was meant to fly to Akure on test flight and only engineers were supposed to be aboard but someone wanted to make fast money and carried passengers.
“It appears those at the helm of affairs at the aviation ministry are not professionally grounded in the technical aspects of the aviation industry.
“The Senate would do the nation a great deal by looking at the owners of the ill-fated aircraft because the aviation regulators know airlines that cut corners.
Ike Ekwerenmadu, the Deputy Senate President attributed the problem facing the sector to inability of relevant agencies to enforce safety rules.
“The regulations and standards are the same all over the world but the problem here has to do with those who enforce the regulations.
“We must stand up as the Senate and National Assembly to ensure that those who are supposed to enforce these standards do them without fear or favour.
That is why it is important to call on our committee to intensify action to ensure that every regulation is enforced no matter who is involved,” Deputy Senate President said.
