The Senate has raised fears of a possible aviation disaster over frequent restrictions of airports and airspace to accommodate the movements of President Bola Tinubu and other Very Important Personalities (VIPs).
Lawmakers warned on Tuesday that keeping commercial aircraft airborne for extended periods because of VIP movements could expose passengers and crew members to fuel exhaustion, bad weather and other emergencies capable of triggering a deadly crash.
The alarm was raised during plenary following an urgent motion moved by Senator Jibrin Isa, representing Kogi East, over the disruption of commercial flight operations by security arrangements for VIPs.
Senator Abdul Ningi, representing Bauchi Central, recounted how he recently spent about two and a half hours in the air on a flight from Kano that was scheduled to last just 40 minutes.
Ningi lamented that ordinary passengers were being subjected to unexplained delays while aviation authorities appeared unable to address the situation.
He warned that the approaching harmattan season could worsen the dangers, particularly when aircraft were forced to remain airborne for prolonged periods.
The former Senate Leader also criticised the unequal treatment of passengers, noting that travellers could be denied boarding for arriving just a minute late, while airlines could keep them waiting for five or seven hours without adequate explanations or apologies.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio also narrated how he once suffered the consequences of VIP-related restrictions at an airport.
According to him, passengers were kept inside an airport bus for about three hours after it was stopped while conveying them towards their aircraft.
Akpabio said he had to conceal his identity and avoid eye contact with other passengers who were raining abuses on government officials over the delay.
He further alleged that airports and airspace were sometimes restricted long before the President actually departed, resulting in unnecessary disruptions to commercial flight operations.
Describing the dangers facing air travellers, Akpabio referred to an aircraft as a “flying coffin”, warning that passengers remained vulnerable until their planes landed safely.
He also raised concerns over allegations that some airlines compromised on reserve fuel requirements to maximise passenger capacity, a situation he said could compound the risks.
Senator Dike Plang, representing Plateau Central, argued that airlines and airport authorities should receive adequate advance information about planned VIP movements to prevent aircraft from taking off when they might be unable to land at their destinations.
Another lawmaker, Senator Neda Emasuen, representing Edo South, called for aircraft already airborne to be diverted to suitable alternative airports whenever their destinations became inaccessible because of security restrictions.
His proposal, seconded by Senator Kaka Shehu Lawan, representing Borno Central, was incorporated into the Senate’s deliberations.
The Senate subsequently directed the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) and Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to improve coordination and ensure airlines receive advance notification of planned airspace restrictions.
It also resolved that aircraft yet to depart should be kept on the ground whenever restrictions were anticipated, rather than allowing them to take off and remain circling in the air.
For aircraft already airborne, the lawmakers called for arrangements to ensure safe diversion to alternative airports instead of prolonged waiting.
Akpabio warned that failure to address the problem could result in an “avoidable accident that is waiting to happen if nothing is done”.
He consequently directed the Senate Committee on Aviation to immediately engage relevant aviation authorities and develop practical measures to prevent a recurrence.
The committee is expected to report back within two weeks.
Akpabio also demanded clarification on the categories of VIPs entitled to airport and airspace restrictions, saying that apart from the President, lawmakers wanted to know whether other public officials enjoyed similar privileges.
A senator, however, pointed out that the Vice-President was also entitled to such privileges under the relevant security arrangements.
The Senate insisted that while presidential security remained important, it must not come at the expense of the safety of ordinary Nigerians travelling by air.
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