Posted by Mohammed S. Shehu on
With 15 recorded cases of technical and logistic problems in less than five months, Virgin Nigeria planes are no longer safe for passengers, Minister of State for Air Transport, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, declared yesterday.
With 15 recorded cases of technical and logistic problems in less than five months, Virgin Nigeria planes are no longer safe for passengers, Minister of State for Air Transport, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, declared yesterday.
He said the recurrent cases of Virgin planes' near accident and aborting of flights mid-air between 6th of November, 2006 and 11th of April, 2007, is "worrisome and unsafe for the aviation passengers flying the Nigerian skies".
Addressing journalists yesterday in Abuja, Chief Fani-Kayode said he has given the management of the airline a one day ultimatum from yesterday to report to his office and explain the shortfall in their safety standards or face appropriate action by the federal government.
The minister said the government would not hesitate to take urgent steps to address the problem before it is too late. Virgin Nigeria is the only national carrier that flies the Nigerian flag.
A summary of the incidents involving aircrafts operated by Virgin Nigeria Airline and made available to Daily Trust listed technical problems like the inability of some of their aircraft to retract landing gear, incorrect system indication, pressur-isation problem, onboard equipment failure and changing of aircraft without informing the appropriate authorities.
The minister said he was an eyewitness to one of the shoddy treatment of Virgin and would not fold his arms while the services of the airline is degenerating and causing panic and unnecessary delays.
Narrating his personal experience, the minister said in one of the incidences, the passengers had to stage a riot at the airport to protest the delay in their airlift which according to him resulted to the destruction of computers and other office equipment belonging to Virgin Nigeria.
He has also blamed the authorities of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), of not taking appropriate measures to deal with the safety problems facing the planes of Virgin Nigeria.
"I have received complaints on the way Virgin Nigeria treats our people. I have invited them to explain to us the cause of the technical problems facing their planes. I have spoken with the Director General of the NCAA but nothing has been done.
"Therefore, I can't sit down and allow any airline treat Nigerians with contempt. And I want to make it clear that the aviation industry is not only run by NCAA. Above the NCAA is the Ministry of Aviation and the ministry is also answerable to Mr President," he said.
He warned all airlines in the country to update their safety standard and advised air passengers to always be mindful of the kind of airlines they patronise.
When contacted, Mr Sam Agose, Deputy Head, public affairs of Virgin Nigeria promised to call back. But upto the time of filing this report, there was no response from Virgin Nigeria.
Daily Trust was reliably told by a source who pleaded anonymity that the Virgin Nigeria authorities were in a close-door meeting with the minister late in the evening.
Virgin Nigeria Head of Corporate Communications said the management of the airline had a meeting with the Minister of State for Air Transportation, Femi Fani-Kayode yesterday evening where all the concerns expressed by the minister were satisfactorily addressed by the airline.
According to Agose, "at the end of the meeting, the minister gave us a pat on the back for a job well done.
Chief Fani Kayode said: Virgin Nigeria is a safety conscious airline and I commend them for maintaining such high standards. The ministry is ready to do everything to continue to support your operations."
The source added that they were in Abuja to plead for time to address the problems and they have assured the minister that they would restore safety standards in all their aircrafts
Meanwhile President Olusegun Obasanjo has also approved the appointment of Engr. Samuel Oduselu as a commissioner of Accident Investigation and Chief Executive Officer for Investigation and Prevention Bureau (AIPB).