Dana Air: Senate Moves To Ground Airline Over Safety Concerns

The Nigerian Senate at plenary today raised the safety concerns over  Dana Aircraft in Nigeria. They expressed their concern and readiness to adopt  measures necessary  to ensure that the lives of Nigerians and foreigners alike are not under any threat by the use of Dana Aircraft.

Senator Gbenga Ashafa moved the motion alongside 14 other Senators. They stated that the recent fearful news which is in the public domain regarding Dana Airline has called for serious concerns. They referred to the most recent incident where the airplane overshot the runaway thereby endangering the lives of air users even as the development sent panic into the minds of the people.

“The Senate is aware that the said aircraft was cleared to return to service by the relevant authorities, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) but while granting an interview to ThisDayNewspaper, the pilot stressed that the door fell-off was as a result of components failure due to hard landing”.

The aircraft cabin according to the pilot is pressurized.

Senate noted that investigation from the Aviation Investigation Bureau (AIB) has shown that most of these problems are as a result of human and technical errors.

Senator Utazi Chukwuka representing Enugu North in his submission supported the motion, saying that it has become imperative that the airline be grounded over safety concerns.

“In 2015, a similar motion was raised and it was referred to the committee on Aviation and have done their best, nothing was done further to actualize the purpose.  Therefore for this, we demand the honorable Minister should appear before the Senate to explain the way out.

Accordingly, Senator Buhari Oyo North supported the motion and faulted the authority NCAA.

“The affected aircraft supposed to be grounded because the issue involves lives of Nigerians and foreigners alike. The stakeholders in the industry are not living up to expectations towards the safety of the travelers. This can only happen in this country.  The Minister of Aviation should be summoned before the Senators for more solution in the Aviation industry”.

Mao Ohuabunwa, Senator representing Abia North was in support of the motion and agreed with his colleagues on their stand over the motion.  He said the two events are a red alert for the lawmakers to stand on their feet.  The two many reoccurrences  are enough for that carrier to be grounded from the Nigeria airspace”

Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu who presided over the plenary commended the Senators over their proactive stance and emphasised the importance of the motion as it relates to lives of the travelers.

“Therefore it is proper to do the needful to nip this matter on the bud”.

The Senate directed the honorable Minister of State for Transport (Aviation) and other stakeholders in the industry to appear before the Senate to give a full briefing on the steps to minimize human error and to avoid air crash in Nigeria.

Source: Leading reporters