Senate Probes Alarming Aviation Safety Breaches
The Senate on Wednesday ordered a comprehensive investigation into Nigeria’s aviation sector following a series of disturbing air incidents that have raised fresh concerns over passenger safety and regulatory oversight.
Lawmakers unanimously resolved to empower the Senate Committee on Aviation to probe the root causes of the frequent runway accidents and safety lapses plaguing the industry.
The committee is expected to engage key aviation agencies and submit its findings within four weeks.
The resolution followed a motion sponsored by Abdulfatai Buhari (Oyo North), who cited the recent Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) report on the June 22, 2025, Air Peace runway overrun at the Port Harcourt International Airport.
Though no lives were lost, Buhari said the findings revealed “critical gaps in safety standards, infrastructure management, and operational compliance,” warning that such systemic failures could have catastrophic consequences if left unaddressed.
“Aviation safety is not negotiable. The NSIB report shows systemic failures that must be urgently fixed to safeguard lives and restore confidence in our airports,” he declared.
Buhari expressed alarm that no fewer than seven runway-related incidents had been recorded in 2025 alone, calling for immediate enforcement of NSIB’s safety recommendations and stricter monitoring by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
In a shocking revelation, Orji Uzor Kalu, former Abia State governor and ex-airline owner, alleged that some pilots operate flights under the influence of drugs.
“Some of them smoke Indian hemp like cigarettes,” Kalu claimed, urging regulators to conduct spot drug tests and routine health checks on flight crews.
He accused aviation authorities of negligence, saying: “Nobody checks their blood pressure or drug levels before they fly. I have seen pilots I told to go home because they were not normal that day.”
Kalu also lamented the poor condition of runways across Nigerian airports, describing them as unsafe and riddled with potholes.
“The runways must undergo quarterly maintenance. When they are neglected, pilots are forced to dodge potholes mid-landing. That is unacceptable,” he added.
Several lawmakers, including Senator Danjuma Goje (Gombe Central) and Senator Yahaya Abdullahi (Kebbi North), supported the motion but cautioned against sensationalism that could heighten public fear.
Goje said, “Aviation is a matter of life and death. The committee must do a thorough oversight and ensure compliance with global safety standards. This is not something to treat lightly.”
The Senate also adopted an additional prayer urging the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development to fast-track the construction of a second runway at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, to ease congestion and enhance operational safety.
Jibrin Barau, the Deputy Senate President, who presided over the session, described the motion as “timely and crucial,” emphasising that the nation’s aviation sector “cannot be handled with levity.”