Dana Crash: Thumbs Down for Probe panel

Dr Steve Mahonwu, Chairman, Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), has thumbed down the committee set up by the Federal Government to investigate last Sunday’s Dana Air crash. He said it was superfluous and uncalled for.

Speaking with aviation correspondents at the Terminal Two of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, Mahonwu, noted that the Federal Government’s committee would usurp the functions of the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB).

He said that the AIB was the department of the Ministry of Aviation that was saddled with the responsibility of investigating air crashes and submitting reports to the Federal Government through the Ministry of Aviation.

“So, the panel is un-procedural, unprofessional and cannot hold water because the Constitution has roles for those who investigate the immediate and remote causes of air accidents under the Ministry of Aviation. We have the Directorate of Investigation Bureau that has the constitutional authority to investigate accidents and report its findings to the president through the Ministry of Aviation,’’ Mahonwu said.

He maintained that there was no constitutional provision for any committee or panel to do the job of the AIB.

“Setting it up now is politically motivated and would amount to a duplication of effort,” he said.

The AON chairman urged the Federal Government to allow the Ministry of Aviation to conduct investigations into the Dana Air crash without any interference.

The Nigerian government, at the end of its meeting yesterday, set up a committee to audit all the airlines operating in Nigeria to prevent future occurrence of a similar crash.

Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah told journalists that the audit committee which has six months to complete its work is expected to come up with a comprehensive report on the state of health of each airlines operating in Nigeria.

The nine-man Technical and Administrative Review Panel is headed by Group Captain John Obakpolor (rtd) Other members of the panel are – Captain Austin Omame, Capt Dele Sasegbon, Dr. O.B Aliu, Engr. F.C Onyeyiri, Capt. Mfon Udom, Capt. Muhtar Usman, Dr. Tony Anuforom and Capt. A. Mshelia.

The Minister also assured that the outcome of this panel‘s audit will be made public.

The scope of work for the panel includes the immediate comprehensive assessment of all the domestic airlines.

The panel is also expected to recommend to government necessary actions that will lead to improvement in the overall safety of aviation sector and also assess the financial status of airlines that are operating within Nigeria.

Oduah als said government will strengthen the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority as a means of enhancing safety of the aviation sector, even as she assured that air travel still remain the safest means of transportation.

Another Committee which comprise of the Minister of Finance and Co-coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Trade and Investment Minister, Olusegun Aganga, CBN Governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido and the Chief Economic Adviser, Mrs Precious Kassy Garba was also set up to look into taxes and other tariffs in the aviation industry.