B-737 crash: Senate tasks FG to secure airspace, protect air travellers
Tunde Opalana, Abuja
The Senate has called on the federal government to ensure safety of air travellers within the nation’s airspace.
It also tasked regulatory agencies in the aviation sector; especially the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and the Federal Ministry of Aviation to ensure that aircrafts operating in the country are airworthy.
The Senate however, commended the Ministry of Aviation and NCAA “for moving swiftly in mitigating the operations of the Boeing 737 Max 8 and 9 series aircraft within the Nigerian airspace in order to ensure the safety of all Nigerians”.
This resolution was sequel to a motion by Senator Gbenga Ashafa (APC/Lagos East) at plenary Tuesday on the need for Nigeria to protect its airspace from the Boeing 737 series pending the determination of its air worthiness.
Presenting the motion, Sen. Ashafa noted that the two Nigerians who lost their lives in the ill-fated flight ET-302 “are individuals who have distinguished themselves in their fields and till their deaths remained worthy ambassadors of the country in the Diaspora.”
He recalled that sometimes in October 2018, a brand new Lion Air Boeing 737 Max 8 went down over the Java Sea killing 189 people, adding that the Ethiopian Airlines flight that killed 157 people, including two illustrious Nigerians was equally a Boeing 737 Max 8 series.
According to him, the pilots have reportedly complained about the anti-stall system installed on the aircraft models Boeing 737 Max 8 and 9 series, commending the Minister of state for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika for assuring that no Nigerian airlines currently operates the aircraft series.
Contributing to debate on the motion, Senators Biodun Olujimi (PDP/Ekiti South) and Mao Ohuabunwa (PDP/Abia North) commended the federal government for banning the operations of the aircraft series within the country’s airspace.
While Ohuabunwa called on the federal government to revive its own airline as it used to be in the days of Nigeria Airways, Olujimi stressed the need for proper regulation of all airlines operating in the country and overhauling of their aircrafts with a view to saving the lives of air travellers.
