- from Kelvin Osa-Okunbor -
The Federal Government on Tuesday suspended indefinitely the operating license of DANA Air, owner of the MD 83 aircraft which crashed into residential buildings in Iju- Ishaga area of Lagos on Sunday, killing all 153 people on board.
The federal government, according to the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, took the step as part of the safety precautionary measures, saying no responsible government will fold its hands while its citizens perish.
Speaking through her Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Joe Obi, the minister explained that this is the first of series of steps to be taken by government to sanitize the aviation industry.
The indefinite suspension of DANA Air’s operating license comes just as anxiety heightens about a major shake- up in the industry regulatory body.
The shake- up, our correspondent gathered comes amid allegations that some officials of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority may have gone to sleep while the carrier allegedly operated a faulty aircraft without any oversight.
A source, who spoke on conditions of anonymity, wondered what calibre of inspectors would certify a faulty aircraft to embark on a trip, when the flight should be tested for airworthiness.
Apart from the banning of DANA Air operations, government it was learnt is also planning to ban the use of old aircraft in the Nigerian airspace, especially aircrafts that have been banned in other developed countries of the world.
Picture of Mrs Maimuna Anyene, who perished in the Dana air crash with 9 family members
Why would a responsible government wait for Anyenes and others blood-shedding first in order to do their job?
Is it so difficult to implement an international laid-down rules governing the Aviation industry?
Scary our government is only RESPONSIVE instead of being active in controlling the most vital transportation system of the new age. It scares!