Senate probes frequent nasty incidents in aviation sector

By Henry Umoru

The Senate is conducting a holistic probe into the aviation assemblage to ascertain the causes of predominant accidents and incidents connected runways crossed the country.

Consequently, the Senate mandated its Senator Abdulfatai Buhari, APC, Oyo North, to pb the Senate Committee connected Aviation successful carrying retired this task and study backmost wrong six weeks.

The  Senate urged the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, successful collaboration with the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), to instantly instrumentality the information recommendations contained successful the NSIB report.

It besides directed the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to fortify compliance monitoring, behaviour regular audits of airdrome facilities, and enforce strict adherence to planetary information standards by operators.

Lawmakers further called connected FAAN to prioritise the rehabilitation of runways, proviso of airfield lighting, and installation of modern navigational aids, opening with the Port Harcourt International Airport.

The Upper Chamber has besides  emphasised the request for the operation of a 2nd runway astatine the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, to amended operational information and trim unit connected the existing facility.

Senate mandated  the Committee connected Aviation to prosecute with each applicable stakeholders, including the NSIB, NCAA, FAAN, NAMA and hose operators, with a presumption to ensuring the afloat implementation of information recommendations and to study backmost to the Senate wrong six (6) weeks.

The Senate’s resolutions yesterday followed a question to fortify aviation information aft the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) released its study connected the June 22, 2025, Air Peace runway overrun astatine Port Harcourt International Airport. It was sponsored by Senator Abdulfatai Buhari.

Presenting the motion, Senator Buhari said that portion nary lives were mislaid successful the incident,  the NSIB study exposed “critical gaps successful information standards, infrastructure management, and operational compliance,” informing that specified lapses could endanger lives and erode nationalist assurance successful Nigeria’s aviation system.

The Senator, who expressed interest implicit the increasing fig of runway-related incidents —noting that astir 7 near-air mishaps person been recorded this twelvemonth unsocial —also decried the reported intoxication of the Air Peace aviator and called for contiguous corrective measures.

“Aviation information is not negotiable. The NSIB study shows systemic failures that indispensable beryllium addressed urgently to safeguard passengers and reconstruct assurance successful our airports,” Buhari said.

Buhari said that “The Senate: Notes the study of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) connected the runway overrun involving an Air Peace Boeing 737-500 craft astatine the Port Harcourt International Airport connected June 22, 2025;

“Also notes that portion nary beingness was lost, the incidental exposed captious gaps successful information standards, infrastructure management, and operational compliance wrong Nigeria’s aviation sector;

“Concerned that Nigeria has successful caller years witnessed an summation successful runway-related incidents, near-misses, and operational information challenges that, if not urgently addressed, could undermine nationalist assurance successful the aviation manufacture and endanger lives;

“Aware that the NSIB study highlighted deficiencies successful runway condition, airfield lighting, aviator decision-making, and regulatory oversight, which necessitate urgent corrective measures;

“Recognizes that aviation information is captious to nationalist security, economical growth, and planetary reputation, arsenic Nigeria aspires to stay a hub for aerial transport successful Africa, and

“Commends the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) for promptly releasing its investigative report, thereby enhancing transparency, accountability, and the civilization of information wrong the aviation sector.”

Vanguard News

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