63 air accidents recorded in Nigeria in 13 years – Committee

…private jet operations worst hit

Nigeria witnessed a total 63 air accidents and serious incidents in the aviation industry from 20002013, a seven-man ministerial Committee on Nigerian Aviation Industry Aircraft Accident Reports Status (NAIAARS) has found.

The committee set up by aviation minister Chief Osita Chidoka to review the level of implementation of previous Safety Recommendations on air accidents from 2000-2013, also found that greater number of these accidents occurred in Nonscheduled (General Aviation or private jet operations for shot) operations rather than scheduled (Commercial Air Transport) operations.

Presenting its report in Abuja yesterday, the committee chairman Capt. Victor Iriobe said the committee equally found that air traffic grew by 227%, from 121,252 in the year 2000 to 275,827 in 2013.

Iriobe noted that out of the 63 recorded accidents obtained from the Accident Investigation Bureau’s database, the Committee reviewed 34 reports with 158 Safety Recommendations while 29 reports were not available for review.

The Committee, according to him, discovered that while 63 percent of the 158 Safety Recommendations had been implemented and closed; 14 percent were partially implemented and 23 percent were yet to be implemented and still open.

Speaking further, Iriobe said, “It was also revealed that the current regulatory focus is on commercial Air Transport Operations instead of General Aviation Operations, which has more activities and thus, greater exposure to accidents and serious incidents.”

The Committee noted among others, that bold political will and strict adherence to Civil Aviation Regulations is required to fully implement the outstanding recommendations.

Chidoka after he received the report, said despite the fact that 63 percent of the safety recommendations have been implemented, a lot still needs to be done.