SAN FRANCISCO, March 24, (THEWILL) – Barely a month after lawmakers backed the use of the Kaduna international Airport as an alternative while repair works are ongoing at the Abuja airport, the House of Representatives has condemned operations at the Kaduna airport, asserting that the airport lacked safety standards for both domestic and international flights.
Speaking at the plenary on Thursday, Hon. Adeyinka Ajayi (Osun APC) told the House that safety standards are not being adhered to at the airport.
“God forbid that an aircraft drops from the skies due to our own errors. This is what we should not pray to happen, it can happen to anyone,” he said, adding that “Aircraft manoeuvring and parking space is inadequate to accommodate the high number of aircraft now operating in and out of the airport.
“Further disturbed that some aviation fuel marketers have been allegedly transferring Jet A-1 from bulk road tankers directly into bowers right on the tarmac and discharging same into aircraft; this poses a lot of danger to passengers and aircraft safety.”
Also speaking, the Chairman, House Committee on Foreign Relations, Ms. Nnenna Ukeje (Imo PDP) noted that the lives of passengers and aircraft were exposed to danger at the Kaduna airport, Warning that the space provided for passengers and parking for aircrafts was inadequate and could easily lead to accidents.
Recounting how she spent close to two hours after landing at the airport, struggling to get her luggage and exit the environment, she asserted that, “The Kaduna airport experiment has obviously failed”.
Similarly, Mr. Hassan Saleh (Kano APC) told the House that, “It is a disaster waiting to happen. Security measures at that airport have collapsed. You could see that the security personnel are overwhelmed by the crowd.
“They no longer conduct full security checks because of the huge crowd.”
Also lending their voice to the deliberation, the Majority Leader of the House, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila; and the Minority Leader, Mr. Leo Ogor, observed that the state of affairs at the airport might have justified the decision of most foreign airlines not to use the Kaduna airport.
Gbajabiamila said, “If all the foreign airlines but one said they would not use Kaduna, was there something they knew that we did not know?
“If the airlines have chosen to lose money than fly into Kaduna, then there is a problem that we should be concerned about.”
On his part, Ogor urged the House to urgently intervene by calling on the aviation authorities to adhere to international best practices in the industry.
“When I flew into Kaduna, what I saw there for me is a construction site. It is very dangerous for our safety. Why did we rush to go to Kaduna?
“Nigerian routes are the most lucrative. For the foreign airlines to reject Kaduna means that we should do something,” he said.
Some lawmakers, mainly from Kaduna State, however opposed the motion on the ground that it was still part of the sentiments held against the airport.
Speaking, a former House Deputy Whip, Mr. Mohammed Garba-Dhatti, insisted that aviation operations at the airport had been smooth in the last three weeks.
“There have been sentiments expressed against this airport right from the beginning. That is what is still happening. Which of the airlines has made complaints that it has any problems at the airport?” Garba-Dhatti asked.
Another member from Kaduna, Mr. Simon Arabo, supported the position of Garba-Dhatti, stressing that “there has been no report of any accident in Kaduna. It is also very unfair for anyone to come here and describe the airport as a construction site.”
Recall that the Kaduna airport is currently serving as a temporary alternative to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, the runway of which is presently undergoing a six-week reconstruction. Aviation workers and other stakeholders had argued that the airport’s runway could still be used while being repaired, but the Federal Government resolved to divert flights to Kaduna, insisting it was the best option.
About the Author
