Senate Warns VIP Airport Restrictions Could Cause Air Disaster

The Nigerian Senate has warned that frequent airport closures and restrictions on commercial flights to accommodate Very Important Personalities (VIPs) could lead to a major aviation disaster.

The lawmakers raised the concern on Tuesday, November 10, following reports that commercial aircraft were often forced to remain airborne for long periods while waiting for VIP movements to be completed.

They warned that keeping passenger planes in the air for an hour or longer could expose passengers and crew members to dangers such as fuel shortage, bad weather and air traffic congestion.

The concern followed a motion moved by Senator Jibrin Isa, representing Kogi East, which led to calls for better coordination among aviation authorities, airport managers and security agencies.

The Senate acknowledged the need to protect the President and other top government officials but maintained that their security arrangements should not put the lives of ordinary passengers at risk.

The lawmakers urged the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) and Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to notify airlines ahead of planned airspace restrictions.

They also recommended that aircraft yet to depart should be kept on the ground whenever restrictions are unavoidable, rather than allowing them to take off only to spend long periods circling in the air.

The Senate further directed its Committee on Aviation to meet with the relevant agencies and report back within two weeks.

Contributing to the debate, Senator Dike Plang, representing Plateau Central, said poor planning and communication between airlines and airport authorities could create serious safety problems.

He argued that airlines should be informed about VIP movements before commercial flights are cleared for departure so that their schedules can be properly adjusted.

Also speaking, Senator Abdul Ningi, representing Bauchi Central, criticised the frequent disruptions caused by VIP movements, saying passengers were often left to endure unexplained delays.

Ningi disclosed that he recently boarded a flight from Kano that was expected to last about 40 minutes but spent approximately two and a half hours in the air because of restrictions linked to VIP movements.

He said the experience showed the level of inconvenience passengers faced and called on aviation regulators to take responsibility for protecting travellers.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio also shared his experience, recalling how passengers were once left inside an airport bus for about three hours because of a VIP movement.

He blamed poor coordination between airport authorities and the Presidency, noting that restrictions were sometimes imposed long before the President’s actual departure.

Akpabio warned that the situation could result in an avoidable aviation accident if urgent steps were not taken.

He also expressed concern about the possibility of aircraft running low on fuel while waiting for permission to land, particularly if weather conditions became unfavourable.

Meanwhile, Senator Neda Emasuen, representing Edo South, called for aircraft already airborne to be diverted to alternative airports whenever their intended destinations became inaccessible because of security restrictions.

The amendment, which was supported by Senator Kaka Shehu Lawan, was incorporated into the Senate’s deliberations.

Akpabio subsequently directed the Senate Committee on Aviation to convene an urgent meeting with aviation authorities to develop practical solutions.

He also requested clarification on the categories of public officials entitled to airport and airspace restrictions, noting that Nigerians deserved to know how widely the privilege was being applied.

The Senate maintained that while VIP security remained important, it should not come at the expense of passenger safety.

The proposed meeting is expected to address advance notification of restrictions, proper flight scheduling, ground delays and the diversion of aircraft already in the air.