Aviation in Nigeria: Where are we flying to?
The Safe Tower project was awarded and implemented in the way conditions at that time demanded, namely in good time, efficiently and in the quality and safety the Nigerian airspace deserved. It is therefore no surprise that no major incident due to non-functional communications or meteorological devices happened since these installations were handed over. Even […]
The Safe Tower project was awarded and implemented in the way conditions at that time demanded, namely in good time, efficiently and in the quality and safety the Nigerian airspace deserved. It is therefore no surprise that no major incident due to non-functional communications or meteorological devices happened since these installations were handed over.
Even though the Nation´s number one airport, Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, receiving virtually daily top VIPs from all over the world provides state of the art communications and meteorological facilities, its Instrument Landing System has been withdrawn from service already more than a year ago because of lack of spare parts. The World Bank has already provided funds for these safety critical devices (ILS and VOR) more than two years ago. Tenders were submitted and opened already in February 2009. Bearing in mind the importance of this equipment for safe landings during the harmattan period that has just started, one is wondering, why this delay arose even though a tender was issued, numerous bids were submitted and finance was provided. We learnt as well that similar instruments were tendered for the Zaria airport to enable Nigerian pilots to be professionally trained by the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT). As well this crucial project seems to be delayed, even though financing is as well available from the World Bank. One is wondering why?
Safety in the air is not only in the hand of NAMA alone – it is the result of a close cooperation between all parties involved, namely FAAN, NAMA, NIMET, NCAT, NCAA and last but not least, the Ministry of Aviation itself.
Let´s now look at NIMET in command of alerting pilots via the Air Traffic Controllers on imminent dangers of weather, such as low visibility, thunderstorms and low level windshear – by far the most dangerous weather hazard, arising in a climate zone such as Nigeria. Low Level Windshear was said to have been the cause of the fatal accidents of Sosoliso in Port Harcourt (2005) and ADC in Abuja (2006). As even the World Bank is requesting for specialists to define the scope of work for Low Level Windshear Alert Systems to be installed at the Lagos, Kano and Port Harcourt airports under their future tenders, one just cannot under-estimate the importance of a professional handling of LLWAS projects for the accurate results expected to be rendered by LLWAS (Low Level Windshear Alert Systems).
Lives in this field do depend on continuous power to be provided by FAAN. This aspect has just been ignored during the past years. As a result of this negligence, NIMET and NAMA are not in a position to operate the Ceilometer (device to measure the cloud height!) of Runway 18, right of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos – that is the runway used mainly by international carriers to land safely in Lagos. The negligence of FAAN forced the contractor of the Safe Tower project to install five small generating sets to provide power for the meteorological equipment on Port Harcourt International airport – just to enable the relevant agencies to utilize such installations for the sake of safety in the air in Port Harcourt to prevent another “Sosoliso” case in this part of Nigeria.
After all these complex considerations, let us look at a way forward. Let us, in this respect look at and learn from other countries. Aeronautical institutions in such countries do only admit companies, which are scrutinized and thoroughly checked by the controlling authorities before being admitted to participate in a tender. They do not even look at statements to say “after this company will be awarded with a multi-billion contract, it will provide maintenance.” Such statements from authorities concerned and companies, some of them just one-man companies, with share capital like petty-cash traders, are simply an expression of gross irresponsibility of the decision makers. Equipment to be supplied have to be certified by NCAA before being admitted to be quoted for in a tender. Criteria for such certification have to be suitability for local conditions, compatibility with equipment successfully installed already, maintenance and spare parts already on the ground in Nigeria.
Other countries have invited companies, who have installed and maintained successfully such safety critical equipment to assemble/manufacture these equipment in their countries – just look at China and Malaysia – both admired by many Nigerians. This is active motivation of foreign investors to provide employment and transfer of technology – as opposed to so-called political considerations when selecting a contractor, most of the time without experience, under-skilled and under-capitalised.
Safety in the air is not an issue to be gambled with by money-hungry individuals. It is an issue that decides on life and death of each and every one of us. It is therefore the ultimate responsibility of the authorities concerned, to ensure that contracts for safety critical devices are only given out to sound, experienced companies that have the expertise to supply and install such equipment and that guarantee regular maintenance and standby for ad hoc calls immediately here on the spot in Nigeria. Only then can we feel safe travelling in Nigerian skies.
Yusuf wrote from Airport Road, Abuja