Nigeria Content Online

The federal minister
of aviation, Fidelia Njeze, has expressed displeasure over the alarming
rate of the presence of disabled aircraft in airports across the
country. According to her, the trend, “is obviously assuming a worrisome
dimension” hence the need for proactive measures to stem the tide and
bring sanity to the airport operating environment.

The minister made
these remarks in Abuja yesterday, while inaugurating the ministerial
committee for the removal of displaced aircraft from airports in the
country.

“It is incumbent on
the ministry to exert every possible effort and provide an enabling
environment to safeguard the passengers, crew, ground personnel and the
general public against incidents and accidents,” she said.

She maintained that
the purpose of inviting participants was “to formally bring together
professionals and other stakeholders to outline the responsibilities to
manage the removal of disabled aircraft on, or adjacent to the movement
area of the airport immediately as it is consistent with safety and
security of airport operations.”

Mrs. Njeze said that
she was aware that “aircraft become immobilised on an airport for a
variety of reasons ranging from incidents such as [damaged] tyres, an
aircraft skidding off the runaway or taxiway to major accidents
involving partial or complete damage of the aircraft but a situation
where such aircraft is left unattended to for an unnecessary prolonged
period as witnessed in our airports is unacceptable and detrimental to
efficient and effective air transport operations.”

She also noted that
“the removal of the disabled aircraft is the responsibility of the
registered owner or operator; however, if this obligation is not carried
out, relevant establishments in coordination with the Civil Aviation
Authority and the investigation authority should act swiftly to remove
the aircraft and the cost [be] borne by the owner or operator.”

The committee, which
has six weeks to submit its report, has its members from Aviation and
its parastatals, Justice, Defence, National Security Adviser, Armed
Forces, and the Police.

The chairman of the committee, Mohammed Rumah, a captain who doubles
as the ministry director of safety and technical policy said Nigeria is a
member of the International Civil Aviation Authority and that they
“would not tolerate anything that flouted the law and expressed the hope
that with ICAO technical capacity, the disabled aircraft will be
removed.”