Nigeria Labour Congress has stressed the need to urgently overhaul the nation’s aviation industry.The NLC made this assertion today in a statement by its President Abdulwaheed Omar condoling with the families and friends of all those who lost their lives in Sunday’s Dana Airline crash.
NLC noted that, “From reports, it is apparent that the crash could have been averted if the appropriate regulatory agencies were effective in their responsibilities.The airplane involved was alleged to have been faulty and this is said to have been to the knowledge of the management of the airline.
“We urge the Federal Government to urgently overhaul the aviation industry, review the licenses of all airlines operating in Nigeria, including foreign airlines, conduct proper checks on the airworthiness of all the aircrafts before renewing the licenses of all the airlines. Federal Government should also put in place a policy of pegging the age of aircrafts operating in Nigerian airspace.
Read the full text of NLC statement below:
Overhaul the Air Travel Industry Now!
On behalf of Nigerian workers, we condole with the families and friends of all those who lost their lives in the air crash involving Dana Airline yesterday, Sunday 3rd June in Lagos.
From reports, it is apparent that the crash could have been averted if the appropriate regulatory agencies were effective in their responsibilities.
The airplane involved was alleged to have been faulty and this is said to have been to the knowledge of the management of the airline.
We urge the Federal Government to urgently overhaul the aviation industry, review the licenses of all airlines operating in Nigeria, including foreign airlines, conduct proper checks on the airworthiness of all the aircrafts before renewing the licenses of all the airlines. Federal Government should also put in place a policy of pegging the age of aircrafts operating in Nigerian airspace.
We believe the safety of all air travelers in Nigeria should be paramount to the regulatory agencies as well as the airlines that seem to have placed their priority only on profit and not safety.
specifically urge the government to do a thorough, transparent and far reaching investigation of this particular crash.
We believe the government should not wait for a repeat of this monumental disaster to reoccur before taking steps to protect the lives of all categories of air travelers within the Nigerian airspace as it is obvious that no one is excluded from the dangers the air industry obviously portend.
We pray that God should give the families and friends of all those who lost their lives in the crash the fortitude to bear this grave national loss.
Abdulwahed Omar
President
