Guardian

• Fault Agency’s ‘Excessive Use Of Power’

• Edo ACN, PDP Differ On Oshiomhole’s Chattered Chopper Controversy

• We Acted Professionally — NAMA

• Helicopter Not Grounded, Says Dati

A GROUNDSWELL  of opposition has continued to trail mid-air recall of Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s chopper by the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) on Friday.

Oshiomhole’s AOS chartered helicopter, meant to convey him and his aides to the burial ceremony of the late wife of Senator Ben Obi in Anambra State, was allegedly grounded for alleged non-payment of dues.

Captain James Manahash said he was shocked that the chopper was recalled after it was airborne.

Oshiomhole was said to have remained in the chopper for about an hour and 15 minutes. When it was obvious that he would not be allowed to fly, the trip was aborted.

National Youth leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria  (ACN), Miriki Ebikina, and Vice Chairman, South South, Osagie Ize-Iyamu, condemned the action taken by NAMA.

Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), the umbrella body for airlines and a renowned veteran pilot with the defunct Nigeria Airways, Captain Dele Ore, who described the action of NAMA as ‘excessive use of power,” also criticised the alleged recall of Oshiomhole’s helicopter.

Deputy Secretary General of AON, Mohammed Tukur, said what is playing out portends danger for the aviation industry.

He said the pilot is not responsible for payment of dues and stressed that it would be laughable for NAMA to claim that the pilot did not submit his manifest but was given clearance for take-off.

Tukur called on the entire management of the agency to tender their resignation for bringing the nation to ridicule.

“We would like to use the opportunity to call on Mr. President to call these people to order. These people are causing damage to the aviation industry.

“It is very annoying. We have professionals in the system and it makes us look stupid in the eyes of the international community. Mr. President needs to act fast; they are doing more damage to him,” he said.

Tukur said that both chartered and scheduled flights are paid for in advance, and that the policy of NAMA does not give room for owing. He described the saga as “a disgrace” and said that an air traffic controller will never clear an aircraft for take off, if there are issues to be sorted out.

According to him, no pilot will be cleared for take-off unless air traffic controllers do so.

He asked: “If an aircraft is already airborne, why recall it. Why don’t you ground it after it might have landed in its destination? Why subject the aircraft to danger by recalling it when there was no threat to national security?”

He, however, called on FAAN to stop misleading the public, saying its utterances are capable of sending a wrong signal to the international community.

Ore said he is saddened at the entire saga, noting, “If you try to tell lies, you need a bigger lie to cover up.”

Ore, who is the President, Aviation Round Table (AON), explained that for an aircraft that was already airborne, “you don’t do that except for fear of security threat”.

He warned that Nigeria is treading on a very dangerous path by endangering an aircraft in flight.

“We have charlatans that are very incompetent and pretend to satisfy their principal. The entire world is laughing at us,” he said.

The ART President said Nigeria is a signatory to the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) convention and cannot be seen to be practising something different.

He said that Nigeria could, however, activate Article 37 of the Chicago Convention, if it does not want to be part of the global aviation regulatory body’s rule on civil aviation.

“You can file a difference, if you don’t want to comply with ICAO standards. I am very sure the hammer will fall on Nigeria very soon by the United States Federal Aviation Administration for huge political interference in aviation.”

But NAMA Saturday maintained that its action on the issue was done professionally and in line with international safety rules and standards without any political undertone.

Managing Director of the agency, Mr. Nnamdi Udoh, blamed the pilot of the helicopter for flagrant disobedience to safety rules and standards, stressing that such rule is recognised worldwide.

Besides, the airspace manager of Benin Airport, Mr. Lawrence Okoye, alleged that immediately the governor left, the pilot requested that he should not file the report to his office, an appeal he allegedly declined.

Okoye said that when the pilot was asked of the flight plan and manifest, he simply replied, “I have the governor on board.”

Udoh told reporters that the helicopter was on ground at the Benin Government House for 55 minutes before the pilot was advised to come to the airport to file a flight plan and submit documents.

Rather than submit the necessary documentations, Udoh stated that the pilot boasted that he was carrying the governor, an action he described as violation of the rule.

He noted that what happened in Benin was a minor issue, which ought not to have been blown out of proportion, saying that since the new policy came on board, the agency has had issues with no fewer than 10 carriers including Air Maroc and Kenya Airways.

He said: “Basically, as matter of rules, we need to know where the aircraft was going and how many people on board. NAMA is covered by legislation to demand for all these. But the pilot or his employer failed to comply with this simple procedure.

Spokesman for the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Yakubu Dati emphasised that the helicopter was never grounded by the agency.

Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State, Dan Orbih, described allegations of Federal Government involvement in the matter as unfounded. He said Nigerians should rather commend the Aviation Ministry for steps taken in recent times to ensure safer airspace.