Where Are The Reforms?

Barely 16 months
after Dana Airline crashed and killed all the  150 passengers on board, the country last Thursday witnessed another aircraft accident which claimed the lives of 13 people.
As usual, an authouritative report on what caused the crash of the 23 year old Associated Airlines plane, which was conveying the corpse of late former governor of Ondo State, Olusegun Agagu to his state is yet to be made public. Government has assured of a thorough investigation into the crisis but if and when the result of the investigation would be released remains a big question.
Records show that in recent years,  Nigeria’s air space has recorded alarming number of air mishaps with over 25 air crashes between 2000 leading to calls for reforms in the aviation sector. Aviation experts and many other Nigerians emphasised the need to reform and revitalise Nigeria’s aviation industry.
In response, government promised to take all necessary steps to ensure that the country’s aviation industry was put  right. In 1999 during the administration of Olusegun Obasanjo under which the late Agagu served as Aviation Minister, Nigerians were told of measures being taken towards reforming the aviation sector.
Following two separate aircraft accidents towards the end of 2005, which involved privately owned airlines and resulted in large loss of lives, President Obasanjo and the then aviation minister, Professor Babalola Borishade introduced some measures aimed at sanitizing the aviation sector which include, the formation of a Presidential Task Force on the Nigerian Aviation Industry; the establishment of a task force on the verification of the air worthiness status of Aircraft and Operational   Competencies  of Commercial Aircraft Operators in Nigeria, the dismissal of some highly placed aviation officials, amongst others.
Subsequent administrations of late Musa Yar’Adua and President Goodluck Jonathan had also laid claims to efforts towards reforming the sector. No doubt, we have heard and read of measures towards repositioning the nation’s aviation section, including the perceived tremendous improvement in aviation safety in recent times. The Minister of Aviation, on Monday assure that Nigeria has the safest air space and that Nigeria, according to the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) is the 12th most safe aviation globally and was scored 65 percent, which is above the global average.
Congratulations Nigeria! But the question still remains, how many Nigerians will agree with this result going by what obtains in our various airports? How effective are these so called reforms that have been going on for many years? If the reforms were to be effective and impaccable, will we be having these tragedies in the aviation sector?
The Minister of Aviation two days ago lambasted critics of Aviation reforms , describing them as “ignorant? She further advised the public to, “recognize the fact that aviation is a very professional area,” which obviously should be left to professionals to criticize.
But one does not need to be an aviation exert to know that all is not well with our aviation industry. One does not need to be a professional to know that certain measures that were supposed to be taken to ensure safety of lifes of people using the Nigerian air space are yet to taken.
There are things that need to be done to limit accident incidences to the barest minimum. The Civil Aviation Act, 2006 must be enforced  if any progress must be made towards improving the sector. A situation where routine checks of air crafts, and other important steps are neglected would continue to cause the nation more pains.
Of course, plane crash happens all over the world. No country is isolated. But we need to do the necessary things to minimize it.
Efforts should also be made to make other means of transportation in Nigeria safe. Our roads have become mere death traps accounting for dozens of road accident cases yearly.
Water travel is not any better. The two recent Niger State boat mishaps which claimed over 30 live is just a tip of the iceberg.
So, in all, one can agree with Ms Oduah that Air travel in Nigeria is still the safest compare to other means of transport. But when compared to air space in other countries in Africa and other countries, can we still say the same?

Calista Ezeaku