…Akpabio Recalls Spending Nearly Three Hours Stranded in Airport Shuttle Bus
The Nigerian Senate has raised concerns over disruptions to commercial flight operations caused by the movements of Very Important Personalities (VIPs), warning that prolonged delays could expose passengers and crew to serious aviation safety risks.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, recalled an experience during his tenure as Governor of Akwa Ibom State when he and other passengers spent almost three hours stranded in an airport shuttle bus while waiting for a presidential aircraft to take off.
Akpabio made the disclosure during Tuesday’s plenary session following a motion sponsored by Senator Isah Jibril, who drew attention to the growing disruptions affecting commercial aviation operations due to VIP movements.
The motion warned that prolonged restrictions on commercial flights to accommodate VIP aircraft could create dangerous situations and potentially trigger a major aviation disaster.
During the debate, lawmakers expressed concern that commercial aircraft are sometimes forced to remain airborne for extended periods while waiting for VIP flights to depart, thereby exposing passengers and crew to unnecessary risks.
Senator Abdul Ningi also shared his experience, revealing that a flight expected to last about 45 minutes from Kano kept him airborne for approximately two and a half hours because of restrictions linked to VIP movements.
Akpabio, while recounting his own experience, questioned the timing and coordination of presidential security arrangements, noting that airport operations were sometimes restricted long before the President’s actual departure.
The Senate President further warned that prolonged flight delays could become more dangerous during the approaching harmattan season, when adverse weather conditions and aircraft fuel limitations could compound existing safety concerns.
Following deliberations, the Senate directed its Committee on Aviation to convene an urgent meeting with relevant aviation authorities and stakeholders to develop practical solutions to the problem.
Lawmakers also called for clear guidelines specifying the categories of public officials entitled to airport and airspace restrictions, stressing that VIP movements must not compromise the safety and efficiency of commercial aviation operations.
Source: TrackNews