The Nigerian Senate has called for greater support and encouragement for local airline operators 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 during a one-day investigative hearing on the need to strengthen aviation safety in the country.
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 expressed disappointment that most of the allegations surrounding the incident were unfounded, commending domestic carriers such as United Nigeria Airlines and Air Peace for their cooperation and adherence to safety standards.
“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 urged the media to play a constructive role in building public confidence in the aviation sector by ensuring accuracy and coordination in their reportage.
“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.
Buhari also revealed that the Senate, through a recent motion, mandated all government agencies including legislators to patronise local airlines for official travel as a show of confidence in the domestic aviation industry.
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He disclosed that the committee would present its investigation report to the Senate within the next two to three weeks.
Air Peace Clarifies Incident
Chairman of Air Peace, Mr Allen Onyema, said the aircraft involved in the incident had no technical issues, stressing that it was not damaged in any way.
“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,” Onyema explained.
He described the pilot as an experienced professional who simply “had a bad day” and failed to heed his co-pilot’s advice on the landing approach.
Onyema said he would refrain from further details since the NSIB report was still under review, urging caution in handling the investigation due to the sensitive nature of the aviation sector.
He also criticised the framing of the Senate hearing as being overly focused on Air Peace, noting that runway overshoots occur globally across different 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 stated.
FAAN Reaffirms Safety Commitment
In her remarks, the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs Olubunmi Kuku, said the agency’s emergency response system was tested during the incident and responded promptly and effectively.
“There were no reported injuries to the 96 passengers and the seven crew members on board.
“All passengers and crew were safely evacuated to the terminal building,” she said.
Mrs Kuku added that the runway was temporarily closed in line with international safety protocols, while internal reviews and coordination with relevant agencies were immediately initiated.
She reaffirmed FAAN’s commitment to maintaining the highest standards of safety and efficiency across all Nigerian airports.
