The Nigerian Senate has cautioned that repeated restrictions on commercial flight operations to accommodate Very Important Personalities (VIPs) could endanger lives and trigger a major aviation accident.
The lawmakers raised the concern on Tuesday during plenary, following reports that commercial aircraft approaching airports were frequently forced to remain airborne for extended periods due to security arrangements for VIP movements.
They warned that keeping passenger planes circling for up to an hour or longer could expose passengers and crew to serious dangers, including fuel shortages, adverse weather conditions, airspace congestion and other flight emergencies.
The warning followed an urgent motion sponsored by Senator Jibrin Isa, representing Kogi East, which prompted calls for improved coordination among aviation regulators, airport authorities and security agencies.
While acknowledging the importance of providing security for the President and other designated public officials, the Senate maintained that such arrangements must not come at the expense of passenger safety.
The chamber consequently called on the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Nigerian Airspace Management Agency and Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria to ensure that airlines receive adequate advance notice of planned airspace restrictions.
It also recommended that when such restrictions become unavoidable, aircraft yet to depart should be held on the ground, while flight schedules and departure sequences are adjusted to prevent planes from taking off only to be delayed in the air.
The Senate further mandated its Committee on Aviation to engage the relevant agencies and submit its findings within two weeks.
Contributing to the debate, Senator Dike Plang, representing Plateau Central, highlighted the importance of proper flight scheduling and airspace management, drawing on his experience in the aviation industry.
Plang, who said he worked with Kabo Air in 1996 as a station manager in Kano and Saudi Arabia, stressed that airlines and airport authorities must be adequately informed about planned VIP movements before commercial aircraft are cleared for departure.
READ ALSO:Â Senate Considers Six-Month Jail Term For Hospitals Violating Emergency Care Rules
He argued that allowing an aircraft to take off when authorities already know that a VIP movement would prevent it from landing at its scheduled time amounted to poor operational planning.
According to him, although airlines are required to carry reserve fuel to enable aircraft divert to alternative airports during emergencies, the safety provision should not become an excuse for avoidable operational delays.
The senator also expressed concern over the growing number of private and government aircraft operating in Nigerian airspace, stressing the need for stronger coordination to prevent congestion and other safety risks.
Similarly, Senator Abdul Ningi, representing Bauchi Central, criticised what he described as the persistent failure of aviation authorities to protect ordinary passengers from disruptions caused by VIP movements.
Make the headline stronger and shorterLead with the Senate’s main warningTighten the story for online readers