The Senate, Tuesday, urged the Federal Ministry of Aviation and the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, to ensure that all aircrafts operating within the country are air worthy in order to keep Nigerian air travellers safe at all times.
The Senate has also hailed the Ministry and Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, for moving swiftly in mitigating the operations of the Boeing 737 Max 8 and 9 series aircraft within the Nigerian airspace in order to ensure the safety of all Nigerians, following the death of two Nigerians in recent crashed Boeing 737 Max 8.
The Upper Chamber also observed one minute silence in honour of the two Nigerians who passed away in the ill-fated Ethiopian airlines flight ET- 302 on March 10, 2019.
Resolutions of the Senate Tuesday were sequel to a motion by Senator Olugbenga Ashafa (APC, Lagos East) on the sad demise of two Nigerians in the recent Ethiopian airlines crash of March 10, 2019 and need for Nigeria to protect its airspace from the Boeing 737 max 8 series pending the determination of its air worthiness.”
Presenting the motion, Ashafa noted that the two Nigerians who lost their lives in the ill-fated flight ET-302, “are individuals who have distinguished themselves in their fields and till their deaths remained worthy ambassadors of the country in the Diaspora.”
Ashafa recalled that sometimes in October 2018, a brand new Lion Air Boeing 737 Max 8 went down over the Java Sea killing 189 people, adding that the Ethiopian Airlines flight that killed 157 people including two illustrious Nigerians was equally a Boeing 737 Max 8 series.
According to him, the pilots have reportedly complained about the anti-stall system installed on the aircraft models Boeing 737 Max 8 and 9 series, commending the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika for assuring that no Nigerian airlines currently operating the aircraft series.
Contributing, Senators Biodun Olujimi (PDP, Ekiti South) and Mao Ohuabunwa (PDP, Abia North), commended the Federal Government for banning the operations of the aircraft series within the country’s airspace.
