FG Approves 707 Million For An Investigative Tool For Airline Accidents 

Following the federal executive council meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Hadi Sirika, the minister of aviation, revealed this to State House reporters.

By Omotayo Olutekunbi

The deployment of investigational instruments by the Accident Investigation Bureau in the aviation industry has received approval from the federal government in the amount of 1,506,285.7 euros, or N707,962,864.83.

Following the federal executive council meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Hadi Sirika, the minister of aviation, revealed this to State House reporters.

He asserts that the instrument will enable the accident inquiry to decipher everything occurring during flights.

He also said that the council has given its approval for the document allowing Nigeria to lease aircraft and begin operations.

Sirika said Nigeria Air will launch in Nigeria with Three airlines.

“I presented two memoranda on the national carrier to allow Nigeria to lease aircraft to start operations. That has been approved by the council. And the second is the deployment of investigation tools by the Accident Investigation Bureau.

“It is believed that the tool will permit the accident investigation to be able to decode going on in flights, and God forbid, should there be a need to investigate the accident or incident, the tool will help them to be able to do so.

“That procurement is for 1,506,285.7 euros which is equivalent to N707,962,864.83.

“This will be including taxes at a central bank exchange rate of 472 in Euro with the delivery period of 11 months and is awarded to Messers integrated contract services limited for AIB,” he added.

According to Sirika, the government hopes to get over the difficulties the aviation industry is now experiencing,

“There are challenges currently in our aviation industry but it is a global phenomenon and it will not last forever because aviation is a very resilient sector. Certainly, we will overcome these problems.

“Of particular reference, yesterday (Tuesday) all of you were present when we discussed with the Airline operators of Nigeria (AON) the challenges we’re facing in terms of Jet A1 availability and of course pricing, which is 40% of the operations of the airline.

“We’re finding solutions to those problems and the cost of fuel also is being attended to and so on and so forth. So yes, we will get there. And it’s doable and by God’s grace.”