Aviation professionals urge FG to release accident reports

A pressure group, Concerned Aviation Professionals, has condemned the failure of the Federal Government to release the reports of past air accidents in the country.The group, in a statement by its National President and Secretary, Mr. Garba Mohammed and Mr. Olufemi Adegoke, respectively, explained that during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the nation witnessed plane crashes, including those of Bellview, Sosoliso and ADC airlines, as well as that of a Beechcraft plane in Obudu, Cross River State.The group said the Accident Investigation Bureau had not been able to effectively discharge its responsibilities.It said, "The spate of the air accidents led to the 2006 aviation reforms, which led to the creation of the Accident Investigation Bureau as an autonomous agency responsible for the investigation of air accidents and incidents, and reporting to the President through the Minister of Aviation. "The sole aim of investigating an accident is not to apportion blame but to make safety recommendations to prevent a future occurrence."It wondered why the AIB had refused to release the result of its investigation into the accidents, noting that the trend was dangerous to the safety of travelling Nigerians and might lead to other fatal air crashes in the future.The group added in the statement, "In the case of the accidents, our checks revealed that AIB has concluded investigation into them 18 months ago and the reports of these accidents have been submitted to the Presidency through the Minister of Aviation but till now, the Federal government has refused to release the reports for reasons best known to it."We hasten to say that this is dangerous for the safety of the travelling Nigerian public. The essence of an accident report is to promote safety within the aviation industry."It also said the Federal Government had no genuine reason to further delay the reports if it actually valued the safety of the travelling public."This action is against laid down international aviation regulations as the International Civil Aviation Organisation Annex 13 requires AIB to send the report of an accident to the stakeholders, which comprise the manufacturers of the airplane, fuselage and engines state of operation; and in Nigeria, such reports are also to be sent to the regulatory agency, which is the NCAA, for them to confirm the report and approve the recommendations," it said.
Click here to read full news..