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•Summons aviation agencies over safety risks •Pledges N100m to Flamingos, urges FG to match reward
From Adesuwa Tsan, Abuja
The Senate, yesterday, raised the alarm over frequent and prolonged closures of Nigeria’s airspace for the movement of Very Important Personalities (VIPs), warning that poor coordination among aviation authorities, which leaves aircraft circling in the air for extended periods and passengers stranded at airports, could result in avoidable air disasters.
The Red Chamber consequently summoned the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) and Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to explain the circumstances surrounding the restrictions and develop measures to prevent further disruptions to commercial flight operations.
It also directed the agencies to consider diverting affected aircraft to alternative airports rather than allowing them to remain airborne for prolonged periods while awaiting landing clearance, describing the practice as a threat to passenger safety and an unnecessary burden on airlines and travellers.
In another development during Tuesday’s plenary, the Senate pledged N100 million to Nigeria’s victorious Under-17 women’s national football team, the Flamingos, and urged the Federal Government to match the reward in recognition of the team’s achievement.
The Senate’s intervention over airspace closures followed a motion sponsored by Senator Isah Jibrin, who drew attention to the increasing frequency of restrictions during VIP movements and the operational lapses that often leave aircraft airborne long after their scheduled landing times.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who expressed concern over the development, said airspace restrictions were sometimes imposed several hours before the actual movement of the President or other VIPs, with inadequate communication between officials coordinating such movements and aviation authorities responsible for commercial flight operations.
According to him, the practice leaves aircraft approaching their destinations circling for extended periods, even when the VIP whose movement necessitated the restrictions has yet to arrive at the airport.
“So even when the president has not come down from upstairs, they have already closed the airspace. So that would take another one hour,” Akpabio said.
He added: “So by the time the president is leaving and is on the road, the airspace has been closed for two hours. By the time he now finishes his pleasantries at the airport and is about to travel, the airspace remains closed. And planes are overflying, turning and turning and turning.”
Akpabio recalled an occasion when passengers were kept inside a bus for about three hours while waiting to board an aircraft, despite his position as a governor at the time, saying the experience underscored the need for better coordination and stricter adherence to flight schedules.
He maintained that restrictions should be closely coordinated with the actual movements of VIPs rather than imposed unnecessarily early, thereby disrupting commercial flights and exposing passengers to avoidable risks. “They ought to know that they should turn, they should wait the president is inside the car on the way to the airport at least before they can clear the air. But they will not do that,” he said.
The Senate President also expressed concern over information suggesting that an air crash in Nigeria might have been linked to fuel exhaustion while an aircraft was allegedly circling and awaiting clearance. He, however, acknowledged that he had yet to receive the final investigation report establishing the circumstances of the incident.
He consequently directed the Senate Committee on Aviation, chaired by Senator Abdulfatai Buhari, to immediately engage the relevant agencies, describing the situation as life-threatening and capable of resulting in loss of lives if left unchecked.
Akpabio said the committee should “immediately convene this meeting because it is life threatening and could lead to loss of lives if nothing is done,” while also establishing whether such restrictions were imposed for other personalities besides the President.
He specifically asked the committee to “tell us if there are other people (other than the president) that they do that (close airspace) for.”
Contributing to the debate, Senator Diket Plang, representing Plateau Central, attributed the disruptions to poor coordination of flight schedules, arguing that aviation authorities should not permit commercial aircraft to depart for destinations where restrictions had already been imposed for VIP movements.
Drawing from his experience as a station manager with Kabo Air in Kano in 1996, Plang said aviation operations depended heavily on accurate timing, particularly in coordinating take-offs, landings and temporary airspace restrictions.
“It would be very wrong for any instance that a VVIP is flying and landing in a particular area, and you know the timing, because all flights are a function of time. And you still allow another aircraft to leave another airport to the same destination that a VVIP is landing. For me, it is mismanagement of time,” he said.
He warned that prolonged delays in the air could have serious safety implications, particularly where aircraft were forced to expend fuel while awaiting landing clearance.
“If we don’t manage the space, it can lead to calamity,” he cautioned, stressing the importance of compliance with aviation safety requirements, including adequate fuel reserves to enable aircraft to respond to emergencies or divert to alternative airports.
The senator said the implications went beyond inconvenience and financial losses, as poor management of airspace could endanger passengers and crew.
“Sir, an aircraft is called a flying coffin. Once it is in the air, it is considered to be a flying coffin. And therefore, there is no parking space in the air for you to do any repair,” he said.
Also speaking, Senator Abdul Ningi, representing Bauchi Central, described the development as an emergency requiring urgent intervention by the National Assembly, accusing aviation regulatory agencies of weak supervision and failure to enforce operational standards.
Ningi said the recurring delays had become so widespread that virtually every regular air traveller in the country had experienced the inconvenience, with passengers frequently left without explanations or effective channels for complaints.
“Mr. President, we are operating as if we are a lawless country,” he said, arguing that the failure to address the situation reflected poorly not only on aviation regulators but also on the National Assembly, which had oversight responsibility over the agencies.
“And the onus is not on NCAA or NAMA. The onus is on the National Assembly that supervises them to do the needful,” he added.
Recalling his experience the previous week, Ningi said a flight from Kano, which ordinarily should have lasted about 40 minutes, ended up taking two and a half hours because of airspace-related delays.
“Last week, I was coming from Kano. A duration of just 40 minutes, we spent two and a half hours because of this attitude. And when we landed, people were abusing government, people were abusing Senate,” he said.
The senator lamented that passengers were often left stranded for hours without any meaningful explanation from airline operators or aviation authorities.
“You go to the airport, your flight is delayed for several hours. And nobody will say anything about it,” he said.
Following the debate, the Senate mandated its Committee on Aviation to interface with the NCAA, NAMA, NSIB and FAAN to review the procedures governing airspace restrictions during VIP movements, identify lapses in coordination and ensure compliance with established aviation safety and operational standards.
The committee was also directed to examine measures for diverting flights to alternative airports where necessary, determine the categories of VIPs for whom airspace restrictions are imposed and report its findings within two weeks.
Meanwhile, the Senate’s N100 million pledge to the Flamingos followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by Ningi, who also chairs the Senate Committee on Sports, seeking national recognition and adequate compensation for the young footballers.
Announcing the commitment, Akpabio said the lawmakers were determined to appreciate the team’s performance with an immediate financial reward.
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“From the National Assembly, even if we do not have anything else to give these children, we will make a token of N100 million to them immediately,” he announced.
The Senate also urged the Federal Government to provide additional incentives to the players, recalling that another national sporting team had previously received a $100,000 government pledge, which reportedly took about 18 months to redeem.
“What is good for the goose is good for the gander. These children have brought glory and pride to Africa and to Nigeria. Therefore, the same token should be extended to them.
“It does not matter how long it takes. What matters is that these children have brought honour to our country and should be adequately rewarded,” Akpabio said.
Moving the motion, Ningi said the Flamingos’ achievement deserved special recognition, particularly against the background of Nigeria’s recent disappointments in international football.
He recalled the Super Eagles’ failure to qualify for two consecutive FIFA World Cup tournaments and the difficulties encountered by the Super Falcons in their qualification campaign for the next global competition, saying the Flamingos had given Nigerians something to celebrate.
According to him, the young footballers overcame formidable opponents despite having been assembled barely six months before the competition.
“I think this is probably the first of its kind in Africa. We must appreciate what these young girls have done for our country.
“Against the background of the failures we have experienced in successive international sporting competitions, these young girls have given Nigerians something to celebrate.
“It is important to underscore the significance of this victory. These teenagers have achieved what many mature and experienced footballers, including the Super Eagles and the Super Falcons, have struggled to accomplish.
“They have brought honour not only to Nigeria but also to Africa and the girl child,” Ningi said.
He, however, expressed concern that the team’s achievement had not received adequate publicity and official recognition, noting that the competition attracted limited television and social media coverage until its concluding stages.
The senator also criticised the absence of senior government officials when the players returned to Nigeria, describing their reception as disappointing.
“When I saw the arrival of these girls, I did not see any high-ranking government officials at the airport, except for members of the supporters’ club. This has created a disturbing scenario in my mind.
“These teenagers have achieved what many other national teams have not been able to achieve. The government and the people of Nigeria must accord them the recognition they deserve,” he added.
Seconding the motion, Senator Ned Nwoko described the players as national heroes, saying their performances against established football nations demonstrated the potential of Nigerian youths.
Nwoko recalled watching highlights of their encounters with Brazil and the United States, arguing that the resources and level of football development in those countries made the Flamingos’ performance particularly commendable.
“The funding, organisation and attention given to football at that level in the United States are extraordinary. For these girls to go out there and play the way they did showed strength of character.
“Those were not easy matches. Some of the encounters went into penalty shootouts, which can be emotionally draining and require enormous mental strength.
“They are heroes to our country. They should be celebrated,” he said.
While acknowledging the First Lady’s public expression of support for the team, Nwoko called on President Bola Tinubu to accord the players national recognition and urged state governors to receive and celebrate those from their respective states.
Similarly, Senator Adams Oshiomhole highlighted the team’s victory over Japan, saying the achievement demonstrated that Nigerian youths could compete successfully with countries known for their technological and economic advancement.
“Not many people gave them a chance, and that is probably why, as determined people who were not looking for excuses, they went out there and did their best.
“Today, Nigeria is on record as defeating Japan. For me, that is something worth celebrating.
“They can beat us in technology, but we beat them in sports. We should be very proud of that achievement,” he said.
Oshiomhole also called for a change in the country’s attitude towards celebrating national accomplishments, lamenting that many Nigerians who made significant contributions often went unrecognised.
“In this country, we often do not give ourselves a chance. We do not value ourselves enough, and we do not always say positive things about our country.
“But the truth is that there are so many unsung heroes in this country. Ninety-nine per cent of Nigerians are decent people. They are hardworking, creative, energetic and never give up on our great country,” he added.
Beyond the financial reward, the Senate urged the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to keep the players together after the competition to sustain the understanding and coordination they had developed and prepare them for future international assignments.
Akpabio warned against allowing the team to disintegrate, saying continuity would help the players build on their achievement and potentially progress together to the senior national team.
“We pray that the Nigeria Football Federation will see the need to keep these children together so that they do not scatter.
“In the future, when they become adults, they will have played together for years and will probably also defeat the world at the senior level,” he said.
The Senate President also appealed to wealthy Nigerians, business leaders and sports enthusiasts to support the players with additional incentives, noting that rewarding their achievement would encourage other young Nigerians to pursue excellence in sports.
The lawmakers congratulated Tinubu, the Federal Government, the Flamingos, the National Sports Commission, the NFF and Nigerians on the achievement, while commending the Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Shehu Dikko, for his leadership and contributions to sports development.
