By Lekan Sowande, Abuja
The Nigerian Senate has emphasised the need for support and encouragement for local airline operators in Nigeria, amidst allegations and misconceptions surrounding a recent incident involving an Air Peace aircraft in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Aviation, Senator Abdulfatai Buhari, made the call in Abuja on Thursday at a one-day investigative hearing on the need to strengthen aviation safety in Nigeria.
The public hearing followed the preliminary report of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) on the recent runway overrun incident at the Port Harcourt International Airport.
Senator Buhari said that most of the allegations surrounding the incident were unfounded and praised local airlines, including United Airlines and Air Peace, for their cooperation and commitment to safety.
“We need to encourage and thank our local airlines. They have their own checks and balances, and they conduct random checks on their pilots and staff before allowing them to fly,” he said.
He also urged the media to help build confidence in the aviation industry by reporting accurate and coordinated information.
“Let’s encourage our own; we just need a very good report to build confidence in the people that the investigation has been done, conducted, and nothing was found,” he added.
He said the Senate, in a recent motion, mandated that all government agencies, including senators, use local airlines for official travel to support the industry.
According to him, the committee would present the investigation report to the Senate in the next two to three weeks.
Chairman of Air Peace, Mr Allen Onyema, said the aircraft under investigation had no issues, adding that there was no damage to the aircraft.
“The aircraft flew back to Lagos. The aircraft had no damage, not even a single one. What happened was a human error, as the pilot in question has flown for almost 40 years.
“He is an experienced pilot; he just had a bad day. On that day, he did not listen to his co-pilot, who advised him on when to land,” he said.
He stated that he would not want to go into details of what transpired because the NSIB report was still ongoing, advising that caution should be applied while carrying out the investigation, given the sensitive nature of the sector.
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Mr Onyema said the Senate investigative hearing should not have centred on Air Peace alone since runway overshoots occur globally across various airlines.
“I initially did not want to honour this invitation, but, on second thought, I came because the Senate members are our customers, and they have every right to be concerned about safety.
“I must, however, correct certain impressions created by the title or topic used for this session.
“What we say here is being monitored globally. We must be careful not to impinge on the integrity of the NSIB report or destroy public trust in Nigerian airlines.
“Air Peace is one of the safest airlines in the world, not just in Nigeria,” he said.
Earlier, in her presentation on the incident, the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs Olubunmi Kuku, said the agency’s commitment to safety was tested during the Air Peace aircraft runway overrun incident.
According to her, the incident was efficiently responded to by the emergency response team.
“There were no reported injuries to the 96 passengers and the seven crew members on board.
“Also, all passengers and crew were safely evacuated to the terminal building.
“The runway was temporarily closed in line with safety protocols, and coordination commenced, as well as an internal safety review,” she said.