The National Assembly joint committees on aviation have emphasized the need for adequate funding of the sector to enable it cope with the increase in demands for air travel.

The two chairmen of the committees of Senate and House of Representatives, Senator Abiodun Olujimi and Honourable Nnolim Nnaji made the observation during an oversight working visit to the Accident Investigation Buteau, (AIB) and the Nigerian Airspace Management put enormous pressures on the existing aviation infrastructures which required that more investments should be made in the sector.

Both chairmen specifically pledged to look into the alleged exclusion of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, (NAMA) in the 2023 Federal Budget to see what could be done to redress it.

The Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, Mathew Pwajok had in his welcome remarks appreciated the committees of both Chambers of the National Assembly for their interest and concerns on matters affecting the aviation industry.

He acknowledged their swift passage of the six Executive Bills on the industry as a true reflection of their commitment to the progress of the air transport sector in the country.

At the AIB the members of the joint committees were impressed with the progress so far made in the upgrade of facilities and manpower at the bureau which has led to the reduction of accidents in the country to the barest minimum.

Honourable Nnaji, the House Committee Chairman stressed that members were impressed that for the past seven years now, the country had not recorded any fatalities apart from the helicopter accident which occurred at Opebi in Lagos early 2022.

The Commissioner, Accident Investigation Bureau, Engineer Akin Olateru had informed the legislators during his welcome remarks that the drastic reduction in aircraft accidents in the country has brought down the insurance premiums paid on operating aeroplanes in Nigeria

According to the Commissioner, the high safety records so far achieved by the country in the last couple of years have brought the insurance premiums on wide body aircraft from $800,000 a year to between $150,000 and $200,000.

He also informed the two committees of the National Assembly that the Bureau has set the pace in air safety in Africa by establishing the first training institution for accident investigators in the continent.

Former House of Representatives member, Hon. Victor Afam Ogene, has expressed shock and deep sorrow, over the unfortunate boat mishap in Ogbaru Local Government Area, Anambra state, that
claimed the lives of several people.

The tragedy took place on Friday, October 7, 2022, at Umunnankwo community. Eye witnesses said that the ill-fated boat, which had about 85 persons on board, took off from Onukwu Bridge and was heading to Nkwo market, Ogbakuba before it capsized. So far, unofficial reports indicate that between 20-30 persons are yet unaccounted for.

According to Hon. Pascal Aniegbuna, Transition Committee Chairman, Ogbaru Local Government Area, while some of the passenges were rescued, several others, unfortunately lost their lives.

Ogene, who is the Labour Party 2023 House of Representatives candidate for Ogbaru Federal Constituency, in a statement on Saturday, in Awka, said that Ogbaru is devastated and in shock over the horrendous boat accident that took the precious lives of some of its sons and daughters.

He said: “This sad news of this terrible accident is numbing and painful to me as a person and must be very devastating, especially to the immediate families of the victims. This is a collective loss for Ogbaru as a whole and we are united in sorrow.

“My condolences go to the affected families and also Ogbahu people and communities, who have in recent times found themselves in the jaws of severe flood disaster that has practically submerged all our communities and displaced thousands of people.”

Ogene had earlier made an appeal in a press statement issued on Tuesday, September 27, 2022, to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to come to the rescue of the people of Ogbaru over the flood disaster in the area.

According to Ogene, in the earlier statement, houses, farms and other businesses in Ogbaru, have been swallowed by the horrendous flood, leaving many people in dire agony, sorrow, tears and hopelessness.

He named some of the affected communities as Ogwu Ikpele, Akili Ogidi, Obeagwe, Ossomala, Ogwuaniocha, Umunankwo, Ogbakuba, Ochuche, Umuzu, Akili Ozizor, Atani, Ohita and Odekpe. Other areas devastated by the ravaging flood include Amiyi, Iyiowa, Ogbeukwu, Okoti and parts of Okpoko.

Said the ex-lawmaker after a visit to the area last weekend:”It is pathetic. It is a terrible sight in Ogbaru as a result of the flood disaster. The human and environmental conditions here are absolutely pathetic and requires urgent action from government in order to alleviate the sufferings of the despondent victims, most of whom have lost all their belongings to the flood disaster.

“These flood victims that cut across several communities, urgently need relief materials and other assistance from government and it’s agencies, such as NEMA and SEMA. I therefore call on these agencies to rise up to its responsibility and bring urgent succour to the people of Ogbaru, who are currently besieged by flooding, so as to avert the outbreak of health challenges associated with such incident.

“Most of them urgently need food, clothing materials, beddings, medical supplies and shelter.

“I also call on the Anambra State Government, to liaise with the Transition Committee Chairman, Hon. Paschal Aniegbuna and President Generals of Ogbaru communities, to coordinate relief efforts to ensure that there are prudently and transparently distributed in the best interest of the victims.

“Please, NEMA, SEMA and state government, should consider this as a serious and desperate SOS message and treat it with the urgency, humaneness and responsibility that it requires.”

Sadly, besides the setting up of four Internally Displaced Persons(IDP) camps and a Flood Committee, no material assistance – besides the provision of 100 foams – has come the way of the people, before yesterday’s disaster.

K-Impex Airline has appointed His Royal Highness, Nasiru Ado Bayero as the substantive Chairman of the board of the organisation.
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The new board Chairman who is an accomplished banker and businessman is the current Emir of Bichi, one of the Emirates in Kano State.

The first class Royal Father became the substantive Chairman of K-Impex Airline earlier this year following the exit of the pioneer Acting Chairman, Alhaji Mohammed Tukur.

His Royal Highness who chairs the board of several other companies and conglomerates according to the Managing Director of the Airline, Dr Abel Ozigi is expected to bring his wealth of experience in Business and financial sector to bear on the fledgling carrier.

The Managing Director further said, “we are indeed excited to have him on board even as we appreciate the contributions of the former acting chairman Alhaji Mohammed Tukur”.