“Before I came into
office, I am sure you have heard consistent incidents involving perhaps Dana
Airline, to mention a few of them. I am sure you heard that, at a point, on
approach to the runway, the door flew open,” the minister said.
“I am sure you know that popular incident. Who are the
engineers that are supposed to look at this? Who are the engineers that are
supposed to check for the safety of the aircraft and its parts?
“There are also incidents involving one or two of its
aircraft at different times, consistent. Of course, after the fatal crash of
Dana, the other time that killed Nigerians.
“There were internal
reports before I came in under my predecessor about a series of infractions by
Dana Airline and the conclusion was that they were not healthy enough to fly
but they went into the skies after such a report. What they did, how they did
it before they told them to start flying again, we don’t know.
“While we argue back and forth about who has power and who
doesn’t have power, the point is that the flying public is at risk, and if any
tragic incident happens, it is the minister that would be called to resign.
Nigerians will not spare the minister.
“For me, the last thing I want to happen to me as minister
of aviation is to have blood on my hands. I mean the blood of innocent
Nigerians as a result of either the negligence, deep complicity or corruption
of those who are supposed to be regulators of the aviation industry.
“As minister, my job is to supervise them and to ensure that
they carry out their duties. My duty is not to regulate. For those quoting the
law, they should know that I know the law more than them.”
‘THERE IS DEEP COMPLICITY WITHIN THE AVIATION
SECTOR’
Speaking on the irregularities in the aviation sector,
Keyamo said “there is deep complicity within the system”, stressing that the
cleansing process would start and continue until they are resolved.
The minister said if the aircraft in the country’s aviation
sector are not properly checked, then there will be “flying coffins” in the
air.
He said beyond the suspension of Dana Air, the NCAA would
carry out a comprehensive audit of all local airlines in the country to
guarantee the safety of passengers and the health of the civil aviation
industry.
On April 24, Keyamo directed the NCAA to suspend the
operations of Dana Air after one of its aircraft veered off the Lagos airport
runway on April 23.
Reacting to the suspension, the Aviation Safety Roundtable
Initiative (ART) said it was unlawful for the minister to direct the NCAA to
suspend an airline, urging the minister to respect the autonomy of the
regulator.
Describing the directive as “external interference”, the
aviation group advised the minister to focus his efforts on policy issues that
positively impact the airline industry.
