The House of Representatives has directed its Committee on Aviation to sit jointly with its counterpart in the Senate to investigate the immediate and remote causes of Dana plane crash in Lagos.
The House also directed its committee to investigate the immediate and remote causes of Allied plane crash in Ghana.
The committee was also mandated to ascertain the air worthiness of all other airlines operating in the country and make appropriate recommendations.
Recall that on June 3 and June 2, a Dana plane with 153 passengers on board and Allied plane crashed at Iju-Ishaga, Lagos and Ghana, respectively.
The resolution emanated from a motion moved by Rep. Nkiruka Onyejeocha (PDP-Abia) on Tuesday which was unanimously adopted.
Onyejeocha, who is the Chairman, House Committee on Aviation, said that the crashes were clear indications of failure and negligence on the part of regulatory authorities in the aviation industry.
According to her, if the rot in the industry is left unchecked, it can lead to more devastating air mishaps in the future.
She said that the Dana air crash was an indication of a monumental rot in the aviation industry.
“The aforesaid crash is a defining moment for a clinical re-examination of our aviation norms and operational procedures with particular reference to regulatory functions,’’ she said.
Rep. Samson Osagie (ACN-Edo), the Minority Whip, attributed the crash to inefficiencies of regulatory agencies in the industry.
“We are quick to react to disasters, but not quick to provide solutions to the problems. We cannot continue like this as a nation,’’ he said.
Rep. Adeyinka Ajayi (ACN-Osun) said that there was need for a serious overhaul of the aviation industry.
He called on the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) to step up its investigation, while the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authourity (NCAA) should sit back.
Rep. Hassan Saleh (PDP-Benue) said that airline operators in the country lacked the capacity to operate within the industry.
He said that it was time for the House to wake up to protect the lives of Nigerians.
Rep. Bashir Adamu (PDP-Jigawa) said the sector needed complete overhauling in order to function effectively.
Rep. Ayo Omidiran (ACN-Osun) called on the committees to carry out an elaborate investigation to unravel the causes of the crashes.
She urged Nigerians with relevant information to oblige the committee with such information that would enhance their work.
Rep. Ogbuefi Ozomgbachi (PDP-Enugu) blamed the Dana plane crash on regulatory agencies who failed to ground the aircraft even when they knew it was not air worthy.
He said the owner of the airline committed mass murder for insisting that the aircraft must lift passengers from Abuja to Lagos on that fateful day.
Rep. Ezekiel Adaji (PDP-Benue) said that the crash was preventable going by what some staff of the company and those who had used the ill-fated plane had said.