The House of Representatives on Thursday unveiled plan to ascertain the safety operations and investigate alleged unwholesome activities at the Kaduna International Airport to ensure that international safety standard is met.
Similarly, the House mandated the Committee on Aviation chaired by Nkiruka Onyejeocha (APC-Anambra) to inspect the ongoing repair work at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja and report back within one week.
Recall that the contract for the repair of the Abuja runway was awarded to Julius Berger at the cost of N5.8 billion, with a completion date of six weeks.
The resolutions were passed sequel to the adoption of a motion under matters of urgent public importance, sponsored by Adeyinka Ajayi (Osun-APC) titled: “Need to review and ensure that Kaduna International Airport complies with operational and safety requirements as contained in prescribed Aerodrome standard of Nigeria Civil Aviation Acts and Regulation’’.
Some of the lawmakers who spoke in favour of the motion, including Femi Gbajabiamila, Majority Leader; Leo Ogor, Minority Leader; Aminu Shehu Shagari, Prestige Ossy, Ali Madaki, expressed concern over the prevailing situation at the airport, despite assurances from the regulatory agencies that the airport will be fit and safe to handle the new traffic.
In his lead debate, Ajayi observed that the ramp markings at the airport are not adequate and the restriction is allegedly been violated by unauthorised users.
The lawmaker further lamented that some aviation marketers transferred Jet A-1 product from bulk road tankers directly into bowsers right on the tarmac and discharging same into aircrafts.
“These marketers could not have been licensed to operate at the airport using this dangerous and illegal procedure. Neither do they have the requisite for storage nor quality assurance kit needed to comply with required standard.
“These unauthorised users go right through the ramp marks and this violates international accepted standard relating to airport safety regulations.
“Also the aircraft manoeuvring and parking space is allegedly inadequate to accommodate the high number of aircrafts now operating in and out of the airport.
“The fuelling installations and procedure at the airport grossly fall short of international standard and pose grave danger to employees, passengers and the public,’’ Ajayi said.
The Osun lawmaker, also faulted the perimeter fencing and restriction of access to airside by livestock and local human traffic.
According to him, the airport is inadequately covered thereby leaving the airside and runway vulnerable to invasion by livestock and locals which is dangerous to aircrafts, life and property.
“This poses a lot of danger to the safety of passengers and aircrafts and can diminish our reputation in the international rating. If the safety concerns were not addressed, the country was at risk of losing its international Civil Aviation Organisation license,” Ajayi said.
In his remarks, Femi Gbajabiamila (APC-Lagos), noted that the concerns raised in the motion have damaging consequences.
“If other airlines apart from Ethiopian Airline decline to use the airport, it goes to raise questions as to what do they know that we don’t know and have they communicated same to anybody?
“Particularly when these airlines are to incur some economic loss and they decided to take the heat rather than use Kaduna airport,” Gbajabiamila said.
Also the House Minority Leader, Leo Ogor (Delta-PDP) who called for the intervention of the House Committee on Aviation, stressed that the construction work going on within the premises of Kaduna airport posed a great danger to the safety of passengers.
“I suggest that the construction work can go on in the nights while planes land in the day time to avoid any mishap,” Ogor urged.
