Edo State
Governor Adams Oshiomhole on Saturday, in Benin, described the grounding of his
chartered helicopter by the Nigeria Airspace Management Authority as sinister.
Governor Adams Oshiomhole on Saturday, in Benin, described the grounding of his
chartered helicopter by the Nigeria Airspace Management Authority as sinister.
Besides,
he said a panel should be set up to look at the circumstances surrounding
NAMA’s action.
he said a panel should be set up to look at the circumstances surrounding
NAMA’s action.
Oshiomhole,
who spoke with one of our correspondents, through his Special Adviser (Media),
Kassim Afegbua, said the agency’s action was wrong and its explanation
untenable.
who spoke with one of our correspondents, through his Special Adviser (Media),
Kassim Afegbua, said the agency’s action was wrong and its explanation
untenable.
He
said, “They (NAMA) are wrong. Helicopters don’t run like normal airline operations.
What if the helicopter had gone to Iyamho to pick the governor? There is more
than they are saying; to stop an aircraft that was already airborne was
sinister, even when the governor tried to intervene, they ignored him. That was
crass of them. The governor called the NAMA man and he said he would ground the
helicopter.
said, “They (NAMA) are wrong. Helicopters don’t run like normal airline operations.
What if the helicopter had gone to Iyamho to pick the governor? There is more
than they are saying; to stop an aircraft that was already airborne was
sinister, even when the governor tried to intervene, they ignored him. That was
crass of them. The governor called the NAMA man and he said he would ground the
helicopter.
“Apart
from us demanding an apology, we demand an inquiry into the immediate and
remote cause of this embarrassment to the Edo State Governor. It is not all
about reform, reform must follow rules.”
from us demanding an apology, we demand an inquiry into the immediate and
remote cause of this embarrassment to the Edo State Governor. It is not all
about reform, reform must follow rules.”
Also,
the state Commissioner for Information, Louis Odion, said the conduct of NAMA’s
officials left much to desire.
the state Commissioner for Information, Louis Odion, said the conduct of NAMA’s
officials left much to desire.
He said
if a governor could be treated as such, there was no hope for the ordinary
Nigerian.
if a governor could be treated as such, there was no hope for the ordinary
Nigerian.
Odion
said, “That is the point Oshiomhole is drawing people’s attention to. I think
the challenge before NAMA is to re-orientate its officials on the virtues of
civility even in carrying out rules and regulations. They are public servants,
not masters of the public.”
said, “That is the point Oshiomhole is drawing people’s attention to. I think
the challenge before NAMA is to re-orientate its officials on the virtues of
civility even in carrying out rules and regulations. They are public servants,
not masters of the public.”
Meanwhile,
NAMA has denied grounding the helicopter billed to convey the governor to Awka
on Friday.
NAMA has denied grounding the helicopter billed to convey the governor to Awka
on Friday.
NAMA
said claims by the governor’s aides that its officials grounded the helicopter
were false.
said claims by the governor’s aides that its officials grounded the helicopter
were false.
The
agency’s Public Affairs Manager, Mr. Supo Atobatele, who represented the
Managing Director, Mr. Nnamdi Udoh, at a briefing in Lagos on Saturday, said
the pilot of the aborted flight should take responsibility for failing to
follow the proper procedure of filing the flight plan and passenger manifest as
prescribed by law.
agency’s Public Affairs Manager, Mr. Supo Atobatele, who represented the
Managing Director, Mr. Nnamdi Udoh, at a briefing in Lagos on Saturday, said
the pilot of the aborted flight should take responsibility for failing to
follow the proper procedure of filing the flight plan and passenger manifest as
prescribed by law.
According
to him, the agency discharged its duties professionally by ensuring that the
AOS helicopter pilot filed his flight plan before lifting from Benin Airport to
Awka.
to him, the agency discharged its duties professionally by ensuring that the
AOS helicopter pilot filed his flight plan before lifting from Benin Airport to
Awka.
Udoh
said safety and security related issues raised by NAMA personnel in respect of
flight plan and passenger manifest had no political undertones but that it was
purely an aviation matter bothering on rules and regulations.
said safety and security related issues raised by NAMA personnel in respect of
flight plan and passenger manifest had no political undertones but that it was
purely an aviation matter bothering on rules and regulations.
He
stressed that the agency, as a matter of rules, needed to know where the
aircraft was going and how many people were on board.
stressed that the agency, as a matter of rules, needed to know where the
aircraft was going and how many people were on board.
He
said, “NAMA by statue is covered to demand for the flight plan which the pilot
or his employer failed to comply with. This is a global acceptable procedure
for a pilot to do before getting a start up.
said, “NAMA by statue is covered to demand for the flight plan which the pilot
or his employer failed to comply with. This is a global acceptable procedure
for a pilot to do before getting a start up.
“When
this is not done, there will be delay while perfecting your documents at the
point of departure. It was a minor issue that should not be given any political
coloration as being portrayed now. NAMA is never political in discharging her
duties.”
this is not done, there will be delay while perfecting your documents at the
point of departure. It was a minor issue that should not be given any political
coloration as being portrayed now. NAMA is never political in discharging her
duties.”
Udoh
said the agency was safety driven, adding that safety does not respect status
as what was applicable to ordinary citizen was also applicable to VIPs.
said the agency was safety driven, adding that safety does not respect status
as what was applicable to ordinary citizen was also applicable to VIPs.
He
said, “The General Manager ATC operations, John Oyegiri, was emphatic when he
said it was the pilot that grounded himself by not doing the right thing at the
right time.”
said, “The General Manager ATC operations, John Oyegiri, was emphatic when he
said it was the pilot that grounded himself by not doing the right thing at the
right time.”
Speaking
on the development, the Co-coordinating General Manager, Aviation parastatals
on Communications, Mr. Yakubu Dati, said the President’s pilot do file flight
plans, stressing that there was no reason why charter operators would
want to circumvent the rules.
on the development, the Co-coordinating General Manager, Aviation parastatals
on Communications, Mr. Yakubu Dati, said the President’s pilot do file flight
plans, stressing that there was no reason why charter operators would
want to circumvent the rules.
He said
the delay had no political undertone, and that when the pilot eventually
complied with the procedure, the governor decided not to travel again and the
helicopter thereafter returned to base in Lagos.
the delay had no political undertone, and that when the pilot eventually
complied with the procedure, the governor decided not to travel again and the
helicopter thereafter returned to base in Lagos.
The
Director of Electronics and Engineering Services, NAMA, Mr. Ifeanyi Nwankwo,
explained that the helicopter was not airborne before the call by the air
traffic controllers for the pilot to file his flight plan.
Director of Electronics and Engineering Services, NAMA, Mr. Ifeanyi Nwankwo,
explained that the helicopter was not airborne before the call by the air
traffic controllers for the pilot to file his flight plan.
He said
the pilots and operators must do things right in line with international
standard.
the pilots and operators must do things right in line with international
standard.
Reacting
to the development, on Saturday, National Youth Leader, Action Congress of
Nigeria, Miriki Ebikina, described the incident as worrisome.
to the development, on Saturday, National Youth Leader, Action Congress of
Nigeria, Miriki Ebikina, described the incident as worrisome.
Ebikina
in his statement expressed dismay at the development, saying it was unthinkable
that the authorities chose to enmesh itself in more crises, even when the
country was faced with serious challenges.
in his statement expressed dismay at the development, saying it was unthinkable
that the authorities chose to enmesh itself in more crises, even when the
country was faced with serious challenges.
He
said, “The grounding of Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s chartered helicopter at the
Benin Airport, 42 days after a similar controversial incident was carried on
the Rivers Governor’s Bombardier jet, in Akure, was a political vendetta,
vexatious and provocative.
said, “The grounding of Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s chartered helicopter at the
Benin Airport, 42 days after a similar controversial incident was carried on
the Rivers Governor’s Bombardier jet, in Akure, was a political vendetta,
vexatious and provocative.
“It is
more worrisome and disheartening to note with total dismay that the Federal
Government in the midst of the security and insurgency challenges and political
crisis engulfing the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, can still be embracing more
crisis.
more worrisome and disheartening to note with total dismay that the Federal
Government in the midst of the security and insurgency challenges and political
crisis engulfing the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, can still be embracing more
crisis.
“With
this development, it is absurd and more disturbing that state governors who are
elected, are no longer given the due respect and recognition in a democratic
setting.”
this development, it is absurd and more disturbing that state governors who are
elected, are no longer given the due respect and recognition in a democratic
setting.”
On his
part, ACN’s National Vice-Chairman, South-South, Osagie Ize-Iyamu, said, “It
was possible for them to have paid whatever fee they needed to pay before or
after the journey, but it is surprising that they were allowed to take-off,
only to be called back when they were already airborne and thereafter delayed
them for hours.
part, ACN’s National Vice-Chairman, South-South, Osagie Ize-Iyamu, said, “It
was possible for them to have paid whatever fee they needed to pay before or
after the journey, but it is surprising that they were allowed to take-off,
only to be called back when they were already airborne and thereafter delayed
them for hours.
“This
is not the first time a chopper will be coming to pick the governor,
considering the terrain of parts of the country, where you cannot easily access
by road or by direct flight, so I am surprised that this is happening now.”
is not the first time a chopper will be coming to pick the governor,
considering the terrain of parts of the country, where you cannot easily access
by road or by direct flight, so I am surprised that this is happening now.”
However,
the state Peoples Democratic Party chairman, Mr. Dan Orbih, said it was wrong
to say the Federal Government was involved in the matter.
the state Peoples Democratic Party chairman, Mr. Dan Orbih, said it was wrong
to say the Federal Government was involved in the matter.
He said
rather, Nigerians should commend the Ministry of Aviation for steps taking in
recent times to ensure safer airspace.
rather, Nigerians should commend the Ministry of Aviation for steps taking in
recent times to ensure safer airspace.
He
said, “The allegation is baseless and unfounded. There are rules and
regulations covering the operation of aircraft. These rules are meant to be
applied irrespective of whoever is concerned. I am surprised that people are
now trying to politicise apparent flagrant disobedience of a Filipino pilot,
who from the account of NAMA, flouted its rules.
said, “The allegation is baseless and unfounded. There are rules and
regulations covering the operation of aircraft. These rules are meant to be
applied irrespective of whoever is concerned. I am surprised that people are
now trying to politicise apparent flagrant disobedience of a Filipino pilot,
who from the account of NAMA, flouted its rules.
“In the
interest of Nigerians who have to travel, NAMA applied its rules. I don’t see
any issue here, except that it was Oshiomhole that was on board, and I want to
use this opportunity to commend the effort of the Minister of Aviation who is
doing everything to bring sanity to the industry. Her (Stella Oduah) bold and
courageous efforts are appreciated by Nigerians who are interested in the
safety of our airspace, in line with the transformation agenda of Mr.
President.
interest of Nigerians who have to travel, NAMA applied its rules. I don’t see
any issue here, except that it was Oshiomhole that was on board, and I want to
use this opportunity to commend the effort of the Minister of Aviation who is
doing everything to bring sanity to the industry. Her (Stella Oduah) bold and
courageous efforts are appreciated by Nigerians who are interested in the
safety of our airspace, in line with the transformation agenda of Mr.
President.
“I also
want to state that in a state where teachers are crying over non-payment of TSA,
when promotion in the service has stagnated over five years, it is a great
surprise that the governor has taken to the use of choppers to be ferrying
himself and others to places, when the people are groaning under severe
hardship.”
want to state that in a state where teachers are crying over non-payment of TSA,
when promotion in the service has stagnated over five years, it is a great
surprise that the governor has taken to the use of choppers to be ferrying
himself and others to places, when the people are groaning under severe
hardship.”
Source: Thisday
