Ethiopian air crash: FG bans Boeing 737 Max aircrafts

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6 years ago

President Muhammadu Buhari

FOLLOWING the recent crash of Boeing 737 Max belonging to Ethiopian Airlines, the Federal Government has banned the aircraft models in Nigerian airspace until further notice.

This was disclosed by Minister of State, Aviation, Hadi Sirika, while briefing State Correspondents after the meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Wednesday.

He said the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has already issued an advisory to that effect.

Sirika stayed: “Regarding Boeing 737 Max 8 and Max 9, that has been in the news recently, there is no cause for alarm as there is no operator in Nigeria that is using that type of airplane.

“The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, whose mandate is to issue advisory, has already issued advisory that nobody should fly into Nigeria or out of Nigeria using Boeing 737 Max 8 and Max 9, pending the determination of the actual cause of the crash in Ethiopia and also pending the outcome of the response of the manufacturer, which is Messers Boeing.

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“Regardless of the enormous safety records of this plane 737, it has caused concern in the world of aviation and you know aviation is universal. Whatever affects one affects the other because aircraft will be flying in and out.

“So, we have issued a directive that no operator with Boeing 737 Max 8 or Max 9 should operate into and outside our airports and this is being carried out.

“Regarding Air Peace and Arik orders, whether those orders were confirmed or intent, it is to our knowledge in the ministry that they won’t be in the country until the next two years or so. And this is enough period to sort out whatever problem it is with that plane.

“The world of aviation will not be sleeping just as we in Nigeria will not be sleeping. And it is a normal standard practice that once a particular aircraft type is involved in an accident back to back, it is withdrawn from the market and see if there is something they are doing wrong. And if it is confirmed that a particular problem says, for instance, landing gear, they will issue an instruction to ground such plane worldwide until the problem is fixed.

“So, this case is not different.

“We pray for the souls of the departed and pray that the industry will continue to be safe and secure. We promise you that we are alive to our own responsibility which is to secure lives and property as a government.”

Sirika also revealed that the council approved over N5 billion for various safety and security equipment in various airports in the country.

He said N4 billion was approved for the procurement of safety and security equipment for Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourt airports with a view to guaranteeing safety in the airports in accordance with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) regulations.

According to him, over 529 million was approved for the supply of installation machines at the Enugu Airport including a transformer while another N529 million was approved for the repair of the Minna Airport terminal building which according to him had been abandoned since 2012.

Also speaking, the Minister of Finance, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, said FEC also approved an external borrowing of €64,759 million from French Development Agency for the provision of natural urban water in Kano to improve access to quality water for 1.5 million people.

She said the loan has a repayment period of 20 years with seven years moratorium.