The Senate has exonerated Nigeria’s largest airline,
Air Peace, from allegations of negligence and pilot drug use linked to the July
13, 2024 runway overrun at Port Harcourt International Airport.
The decision followed a one-day investigative hearing
conducted by the Senate Committee on Aviation on Thursday in Abuja.
Committee Chairman, Senator Abdulfatai Buhari, said
the upper chamber’s review of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB)
report revealed “serious contradictions” that undermined its credibility.
According to Buhari, the NSIB initially alleged drug
use by several Air Peace crew members before narrowing its claims to two
individuals—a development he described as inconsistent and damaging to the
country’s aviation image.
“You can see that, unfortunately, most of those
allegations are not true. The report was disjointed and not coordinated,”
Buhari said after the hearing.
“You don’t accuse people wrongly, especially in aviation, where ICAO and other
international bodies are monitoring us closely.”
Senate Cautions Against False Accusations
The committee hearing, attended by top aviation
stakeholders including Air Peace Chairman and CEO Allen Onyema, officials from
the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), and representatives of other
regulatory agencies, focused on strengthening aviation oversight and rebuilding
public confidence.
Senator Buhari commended Air Peace and other domestic
carriers for maintaining strong safety protocols, including internal checks and
random drug testing of flight crew.
“Air Peace and United Nigeria Airlines are our own,”
Buhari said. “We must support them, not destroy their reputation with
unverified reports. The important thing is that no lives were lost, and the
aircraft was not damaged. It was later towed and flown back safely to Lagos.”
The lawmaker disclosed that the Senate would soon
issue a formal report recommending measures to improve the accuracy,
coordination, and professionalism of aviation investigations in Nigeria.
He also clarified that the probe was not intended to
witch-hunt any operator but to ensure consistent improvements in air safety and
regulatory integrity.
Additionally, Buhari revealed that the Senate is
considering a new bill that would require all federal agencies and officials to
patronize Nigerian airlines for official travel, a move aimed at supporting the
growth of the domestic aviation sector.
Onyema: “Air Peace Is Being Monitored
Globally”
In his remarks, Air Peace Chairman Allen Onyema
described the NSIB’s handling of the incident as “unfair and damaging” to a
Nigerian airline that strictly adheres to international safety standards.
“I initially did not want to honour this invitation,”
Onyema said. “But I came because the Senate members are our customers and have
every right to be concerned about safety. However, I must correct certain wrong
impressions created by the NSIB’s handling of this matter.”
Onyema clarified that the aircraft involved in the
incident suffered no mechanical faults or structural damage, and that the
runway excursion was the result of a human error by an experienced pilot.
“The aircraft had no damage whatsoever. It flew back
to Lagos the same day. The pilot involved has nearly 40 years of flying
experience—he just had a bad day,” Onyema explained.
He emphasized Air Peace’s strict internal safety
culture, recounting an instance where he grounded eight aircraft in a single
day after discovering a maintenance oversight.
“We could have hidden it, but we reported it ourselves
to the NCAA. That is how seriously we take safety,” he said.
Onyema urged caution in the dissemination of
misleading or unverified reports, stressing that Nigeria’s aviation reputation
is being monitored globally.
“What we say here is being watched worldwide. We must
be careful not to destroy public trust in our airlines or damage the image of
the NSIB. Air Peace is one of the safest airlines in the world, not just in
Nigeria,” Onyema asserted.
The hearing later moved into a closed-door session
where lawmakers and industry regulators examined confidential safety data and
additional NSIB documents related to the July incident.
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