The Senate has expressed concerns over the rising cases of air planes over-shooting runways, leading to near accidents at local airports in recent times.
It has consequently mandated its committee on aviation to engage with all relevant agencies in the sector, with a view to safeguarding the safety of air passangers and other stakeholders.
Among the agencies listed for investigative engagement are the Nigerian Safety and Investigation Bureau (NSIB), Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA).
Airline operators are also to be co-opted in the investigation, to ensure full implementation of the safety recommendations by all stakeholders.
The resolution came through a motion, moved by Senator Abdulfatai Buhari (Oyo North) on the need to strengthen avaiotion safety at the nation’s airports.
The motion was informed by the report of the NSIB on an aircraft in the fleet of Air Peace, which overran the runway at the Port Harcourt Airport recently.
The report indicted one of the pilots who was discovered to be operating under the influence of alcohol.
Although no lives were lost in the incident, Senator Buhari said the NSIB report exposed critical gaps in safety standards.
The report also identified lapses in infrastructure management and operational compliance, raising safety issues that could erode public confidence in the country’s aviation industry.
Leading the debate, Senator Buhari expressed concern over the rising number of runway-related incidents, citing no fewer than seven cases in the last 10 months.
Lawmakers at plenary decried the alleged intoxication of the Air Peace pilot, and called for immediate corrective or punitive measures as the case may be.
Buhari saiis, “Aviation safety is not negotiable. The NSIB report shows systemic failures that must be addressed urgently to safeguard passengers and restore confidence at our airports.”
While adopting the motion, the Senate called on the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development to implement the recommendations of the NSIB in collaboration with FAAN.
The lawmakers also urged the NCAA to strengthen compliance monitoring, conduct routine safety audits of airport facilities, and enforce strict adherence to international standards by all operators.
They tasked FAAN to prioritise the rehabilitation of runways, installation of modern navigational aids, and provision of airfield lighting, starting with the Port Harcourt International Airport.
The Senate avaiotion committee was mandated to ensure that all the relevant agencies submit themselves to the investigation and report back to the chamber within six weeks.
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