Sets Two-Week Deadline
The Senate has ordered a two-week investigation into prolonged airspace closures for Very Important Personalities (VIPs), warning that the practice could expose commercial aircraft to serious safety risks.
The lawmakers expressed concern that commercial flights are sometimes forced to circle for hours or remain grounded while aviation authorities reserve airspace for VIP movements.
They directed the Senate Committee on Aviation to investigate the restrictions and recommend measures to prevent avoidable delays and potential aviation emergencies.
The resolution followed a motion sponsored by Senator Isah Jibrin during Tuesday’s plenary.
The committee, chaired by Senator Abdulfatai Buhari, will summon the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) and Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
It is expected to submit its findings within two weeks.
During the debate, Senator Diket Plang, representing Plateau Central, warned that poor coordination between VIP movements and commercial flight schedules could endanger passengers.
Plang, a former aviation industry worker, said authorities must stop clearing commercial flights for destinations where airspace restrictions are already in force.
He warned that forcing aircraft to remain airborne beyond scheduled periods could create dangerous situations, particularly when fuel reserves become critical.
“If we don’t manage the space, it can lead to calamity,” he said.
Senator Abdul Ningi also condemned the recurring disruptions, recounting how a flight from Kano that should have lasted about 40 minutes took two and a half hours.
He said passengers were frequently left without explanations for prolonged delays, urging the National Assembly to hold aviation agencies accountable.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio recalled an experience in which passengers were kept inside a bus for about three hours while waiting to board an aircraft.
He blamed the disruption on airspace restrictions sometimes imposed long before the President begins moving towards the airport.
According to him, commercial aircraft can be prevented from landing or taking off while officials await the President’s departure from an engagement.
Akpabio warned that such restrictions could leave aircraft circling repeatedly and passengers stranded at airports.
He also raised concerns about a possible link between prolonged holding patterns and aircraft fuel exhaustion, disclosing that he had been told a recent plane crash resulted from fuel depletion while awaiting clearance.
However, he clarified that he had not seen the official investigation report and could not confirm the cause of the crash.
The Senate President directed the aviation committee to establish how VIP airspace restrictions are authorised, how long they last and whether similar privileges extend to other personalities beyond the President.
The probe is expected to determine whether current procedures adequately protect commercial passengers and ensure that VIP movements do not compromise aviation safety.