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By Faheem Lawal
The Bola Ahmed Tinubu Ideological Group (BAT-IG) has welcomed the Senate’s intervention on the prolonged holding of commercial aircraft in Nigerian airspace to accommodate Very Important Persons (VIPs) and other security-related movements, describing it as a validation of its earlier proposal for dedicated runways for official flights.
The group, in a statement by its Convener, Bamidele Atoyebi said the Senate’s position reinforced concerns it had previously presented to the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development on the need to expand runway capacity at the country’s major airports to prevent disruptions to scheduled commercial operations.
The Senate, during its sitting on Tuesday, raised concerns about the safety implications of keeping commercial aircraft airborne for extended periods because landing operations had been temporarily suspended for VIP movements.
The lawmakers warned that prolonged holding patterns could increase fuel consumption, reduce available fuel reserves and expose passengers and crew to avoidable aviation risks.
They also urged aviation authorities to improve advance coordination by managing foreseeable restrictions through ground delays, revised departure slots and proper flight sequencing, rather than allowing aircraft to take off and subsequently remain airborne while awaiting clearance to land.
Reacting to the development, the group said it had submitted proposals to the ministry before the Senate’s intervention, seeking additional runway capacity at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja and Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, including dedicated runways for VIP and official government flights.
The group said it wrote to the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development on November 4, requesting an urgent review of the existing runway capacity at the Abuja airport, an assessment of the feasibility of an additional runway for official movements and a clear implementation plan with defined timelines.
It added that the letter, formally received by the minister’s office on November 4, requested a response within 30 days and expressed the group’s willingness to engage further with the ministry on the proposal.
Similarly, BAT-IG said it submitted another request on November 5 concerning additional runway capacity at the Lagos airport, with a similar proposal for dedicated VIP and official government flight operations.
The group described the Senate’s intervention as evidence that the concerns it raised were rooted in identifiable policy and infrastructure gaps rather than political commentary.
“At Bola Ahmed Tinubu Ideological Group, this is what we are good at – identifying policy gaps and proffering practical solutions to them.
“It is a good thing that at BAT Ideological Group, the policy gaps we identify and the practical solutions we proffer are now being seen and discussed at the highest level. It gives us confidence that we are on the right track and doing the right thing.
“This is an endorsement that we are not taking for granted,” the group said.
The group stressed that its proposal was not intended to undermine legitimate security arrangements for the President, VIPs or other protected persons, but to ensure that official movements did not unnecessarily disrupt commercial aviation or expose passengers and airlines to avoidable operational risks.
It said Nigeria’s major airports required increased runway capacity to accommodate growing commercial, diplomatic and official air traffic, adding that infrastructure planning should anticipate long-term demands rather than rely solely on operational adjustments.
The group cited the ongoing development of Dubai’s Al Maktoum International Airport, planned to have five runways, as an example of the importance of investing in additional runway infrastructure to support expanding aviation activities.
It identified the Abuja airport as particularly important because of its status as the nation’s capital and a major hub for official movements, while describing the Lagos airport as the country’s major international aviation gateway.
It called on the Senate Committee on Aviation, the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to examine its proposal as part of broader efforts to improve aviation safety and operational efficiency.
It also commended the Senate for recognising the need for foreseeable flight restrictions to be communicated and managed before commercial aircraft depart their originating airports.
The group said it would continue to identify policy and infrastructure gaps and submit practical recommendations in support of the Renewed Hope agenda of President Bola Tinubu.
