In times of tragedy: Lessons from Kenya

Perhaps it is important to look at the most recent case of tragedy in East-Africa Kenya. Recently, when Kenya was faced with one of the worst hostage crisis the country had ever seen, the rallying cry was under one banner -We are one! The fervour towards unity and the patriotism exhibited by Kenyans was one […]

Perhaps it is important to look at the most recent case of tragedy in East-Africa Kenya. Recently, when Kenya was faced with one of the worst hostage crisis the country had ever seen, the rallying cry was under one banner -We are one! The fervour towards unity and the patriotism exhibited by Kenyans was one never seen before. In the face of the onslaught, the people came together to ensure that they offered one another what went beyond emotional support. I recollect the story of the woman who voluntary served tea and snacks to journalists and policemen throughout the siege.  We also saw Uhuru Kenyatta, Raila Odinga and other opposition leaders standing together to address their countrymen. Together, they also reach out to support the security forces, burying their differences to grieve and comfort one another. The opposition leaders rose above the temptation to cash in on the situation that is beyond human comprehension.
At periods of great trials, statesmen stand out. They resist cheap opportunities to grovel at the misfortunes that befall people they seek to rule.  It is high time we learnt from Kenya.
Indeed, after the bitter fight that trailed the elections, it would have been so convenient for Kenyatta and Odinga to create camps and start the war of attrition over the attack by the deadly Al-shabab on Westgate mall that left the country devastated after no fewer than 69 people were killed and several others injured.  But there was no accusation that government failed to provide security. We didn’t hear outworn phrases like “clueless”, corruption or leadership failure from Kenyans. What we heard was ‘onward.’
Don’t our leaders know where to draw the line between politics and statesmanship?
Ever since the unfortunate crash of the 120 Embraer aircraft operated by Associated Airlines on a charter flight to Akure, opposition leaders threw caution to the wind to exploit the sad incident for political gains. Like the vulture that feeds on carcass, they have started to feast on the remains of the departed.
It’s no secret that the Nigeria aviation sector was left to a cascading decline, until the present leadership embarked on a rescue operation two years ago. The Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah has pursued the aviation master plan that transformed a sector that, like a phoenix, is  rising from the ashes of its past.
 In just about two years in office, issues of safety and security have taken the centre stage. Agencies have been transformed and appropriate laws initiated to send meet present realities. The Aerotropolis project was initiated, which entails building cities around airports, and thus connecting workers, suppliers, executives and goods to the aviation world. Following the gains from the International Conference on Aviation Safety in Africa held in Abuja in 2012, a tactical marketing strategy was launched to take the merchandize to the doorsteps of international investors through the Abuja road-shows.
It was realised that Nigeria as a leading aviation market in Africa must evolve policies to strengthen this position and play a greater international role in this arena. Already, the China State Construction Engineering Corporation Ltd has signed a contract to construct five ultra-modern international airport terminals in Lagos, Abuja, Port-Harcourt and Enugu. Right now, we have seen work commenced in Enugu.
As part of the Airport Remodelling Project, the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos has been expanded by 25%, to enhance passenger facilitation at the airport. The new power house at the airport is also ready for commissioning while FAAN has recently taken delivery of modern security equipment that would enhance safety and security at all our airports. It is also to the credit of the current Minister of Aviation that abandoned aircraft which constituted considerable danger for many years at Nigerian airport have been removed. It was also her determination to enforce safety at all airports that saw the removal of oil tankers that had constituted danger and an eyesore at the Murtala Muahmmed Airport access road for many years. The list is endless.
The international regulatory agencies such as the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) have put a stamp of approval on these achievements in a number of ways. For example, ICAO recently listed Nigeria as one of the 14 countries in Africa that have effective safety implementation above the global average of 61 per cent, as contained in its 2013 Safety Report. The ICAO Safety Report is made from investigation conducted by the organization’s auditors concerning levels of compliance by individual member states all over the world.
Indeed that explains why perhaps, for the first time in the annals of our history, less than 24 hours after the crash, the Accident Investigation and Prevention Bureau (AIB) has commenced investigation into the Associated Airline’s plane crash in Nigeria. Flight recorders recovered are being downloaded at the Bureau’s newly-installed flight laboratory at its Abuja headquarters where the readout of the recorders has commenced.
It is imperative that we reduce our pull-him-down mentality. If Nigeria must grow as a nation, the lessons from Kenya must be imbibed. We must say to ourselves that we are one, irrespective of our political and ethno-religious inclination.

Dati is of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria