"Qoute Me Not" - Nigerian Air Disaster

Posted by: Dr. Joseph Ozigis Akomodi

By: Miriam Ikunaiye
Email: info@etemeya.com

Nigerian Air Disaster

Air crashes and road accidents are getting frequenter and bloodier in Nigeria, but some incidents of casualties look completely uncalled for and avoidable. Two weeks ago, Nigerians witnessed yet another deadly air crash when ADC's Boeing 737 passenger jet came down almost immediately after take-off from the capital, Abuja, on a flight to the northern city of Sokoto, killing 96. In this incident the pilot was said to have ignored the air traffic control advice —a regrettable tradition. However, fraud and other crimes in connection with the government's failure to properly monitor aviation sector contributed to the escalating air disasters. Like everything else in Nigeria, obsolete flight control system, sub standard aircrafts and unqualified personnel crystallize arguments for criminal negligence.

Listed the 23rd position among the 25 worst global geographical zones for air crashes cause me to jolt. With a shameful record like this, a thinking man need not be told to overhaul the entire aviation industry. Therefore, the aviation minister’s finger pointing must not be allowed to divert attention from the seated misconduct in the aviation sector and in the administration as a whole. Meanwhile we shall all hold our breath, hoping to see corrective measures implemented in the memories of the passengers that lost their lives.

However, we must not forget the high numbers of Nigerians that die every day from road accidents. Some road accidents involve as many as sixty or more passengers at a time, but because they are not high profile, their tragedies do not draw national attention or national mourning period. We, the ordinary citizens, are being treated as second class citizens, our needs are being ignored and we are being held hostage in our own country by our own government. We can not conduct simple daily businesses without being harassed by way-lords or air-dogs. Various covert activities including the rule that virtually allow only friends and families of the government officials to hold the right to import, export and distribute goods; have for years sacrificed the citizens' safety, and in some cases, their lives.

It is an understatement, to say a significant number of Nigerians are facing the gnawing pain of hunger, malnutrition is escalating among children and HIV AIDS infection is not ceding. My people are reaching the heaven’s door in masses and there is no relief in sight. Corruption that is mutating throughout the government keep citizens in shackles of poverty with no choice but maintain devastating cycle of dehumanizing conditions. Lucky me have some warm milk to serve my kids to bed last night; how about those who are not so luck?

Below are some of Nigerian air crash incidents within four years period.

October 29, 2006, ADC's Boeing 737 passenger jet came down almost immediately after take-off from the capital, Abuja, on a flight to the northern city of Sokoto, killing 96.

September 2006, Dornier 228 aircraft 18 people on board when it crashed in Obudu hill after flying from the capital; Abuja, killing 10 most senior army commanders.

October 2005 Bellview Airlines flight 21, a commercial airliner crashed near village of Lissa in Ogun state killing All 117 passengers and crew.

December 2005, 103 Died in the DC-9, owned by the private Sosoliso Airlines, among the passengers were 75 school children, aged 12-16, going home for the Christmas holidays —Port Harcourt.

In May 2002, a plane crashed near the city of Kano, killing nearly 150 people.



By Miriam Ikunaiye