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Nigerian aviation minister sacked

Posted by BBC News on 2006/11/02 | Views: 623 |

Nigerian aviation minister sacked


Nigeria's aviation minister has been sacked following the plane crash on Sunday in which the spiritual leader of Nigeria's Muslims and 95 others died.

Nigeria's aviation minister has been sacked following the plane crash on Sunday in which the spiritual leader of Nigeria's Muslims and 95 others died.

Babalola Borishade swaps jobs with Culture Minister Femi Fani-Kayode, according to the president's office.

The crash of an ADC Boeing 737 into a cornfield just 2km (1.2 miles) from Abuja's main airport was the third major airline disaster in a year.

Nigeria held three days of national mourning amid widespread anger.

Critics are sceptical that an aviation industry overhaul to improve safety announced by President Olusgeun Obasanjo several months ago will actually work.

An investigation into the cause of Sunday's crash is already under way and ADC's aircraft have been grounded.

Premature

The day after the crash, Mr Borishade criticised the pilot, saying he had ignored bad weather warnings.

The pilots' union condemned his comments as premature ahead of any investigation.

Mr Obasanjo went to Sokoto to pay his respects after the death of Sultan Mohammadu Maccido.

Two senators and the son of a former president were also among those who died.

Just over a year ago, a passenger jet operated by Bellview went down near Lagos, killing 117 people.

Seven weeks later, a plane operated by the Nigerian airline Sosoliso crashed on landing in the southern city of Port Harcourt, killing 106 people, half of whom were children.

Since then new aviation officials have been appointed and runways are being improved.

The government says airport technology is also being upgraded to improve navigation.




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