The House of Representatives has summoned the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Festus Keyamo on the need to maintain high standards of safety, security, and efficiency at airports.
Adopting a motion under matters of urgent national importance sponsored by Mr Jesse Okey-Joe Onuakalusi at the plenary presided over by Speaker Tajudeen Abass, the House directed the heads of relevant agencies and departments, to appear before the House Committee on Aviation within the next seven days to address concerns raised over the country’s airport.
The House mandated the Ministry of Aviation to conduct an Audit of Technical systems and projects to thoroughly review of the current state of RADAR systems, radio communications, the Safe Tower project, and the Aeronautical Information Service (AIS) Automation project.
The House noted that the findings and recommendations for improvements shall be submitted to the House Committee on Aviation within 14 days for consideration.
The House further directed its Committee on Legislative Compliance to diligently oversee the implementation of the resolutions.
Onuakalusi argued that there is the need for all personnel and contractors to be properly qualified and competent for the smooth operation of our airports and the safety of all passengers and stakeholders.
The lawmaker contended that the efficient functioning of Nigerian airports is crucial for national security, safety, and economic development.
He said the need for the House to wade into the issue became necessary due to the potential risks to safety, security, and efficiency posed by the appointment of incompetent officers to sensitive positions and the employment of political appointees who may lack the necessary knowledge and competence to manage critical airport functions.
He expressed concern over the abysmal state of our RADAR systems, which present a disaster waiting to happen as RADAR labels often fail at critical times, risking mid-air collisions.
He noted: “More worried about the state of our communication radios, with previous attempts to resolve these challenges yielding no positive improvements, leading pilots and controllers to rely on relays from others for necessary instructions, risking national embarrassment;
“Disturbed that the stalled Safe Tower project, despite significant investment, needs urgent attention to improve the efficiency of our towers.
“More disturbed that the Aeronautical Information Service (AIS) Automation project has been ongoing for over fifteen (15) years without completion, which could solve communication challenges in the Airspace when completed.”
