The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Aviation, Senator Fatai Buhari, has raised concerns about the prevalence of ageing aircraft in Nigeria’s aviation sector, suggesting that the country’s fleet is “over-bloated” with older planes compared to practices in developed nations.
His comments were made during a recent stakeholders’ engagement hosted by the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development in Lagos.
Buhari, in his remarks, called for a shift towards a more modern fleet, emphasizing the safety concerns associated with older aircraft. “When we are abroad and you board an aircraft, you won’t even know it’s working.
But the moment you step into any of our planes in Nigeria, you might start reading the book of Psalms or the Holy Quran,” he said, underscoring the discomfort and safety anxieties that often accompany flying on older planes.
However, several industry leaders swiftly countered the senator’s assertion, insisting that the age of an aircraft is not the primary determinant of safety and reliability. Instead, they argued that proper and consistent maintenance is what truly matters in ensuring the safety of air travel.
The Acting Director-General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Chris Najomo, responded by emphasizing that aircraft maintenance is the key factor in ensuring operational safety, not the age of the airplane itself. “The soundness of an aircraft is not measured by its age but by the level of maintenance it receives,” Najomo explained.
He pointed out that even newer planes can crash if not properly maintained, while older aircraft, when adequately cared for, can continue to operate safely. “What the Minister has done with the Cape Town Convention is to ensure airlines have access to newer equipment,” he added, stressing the importance of scheduled maintenance and rigorous oversight.
Allen Onyema, Vice President of the Airlines Operators of Nigeria (AON) and Chairman of Air Peace, further addressed the issue, stating that Nigeria has one of the youngest fleets in the world.
He highlighted the fact that some foreign airlines, despite using older aircraft, often maintain them so well that passengers perceive them as new. “In the U.S., you’ll see planes that are almost 40 years old, but they are so well-maintained that they look brand new,” Onyema remarked. “We have very young aircraft in our fleets here in Nigeria, and maintenance is key to their continued reliability.”
Olubunmi Kuku, Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), also weighed in, noting that the senator’s comments about the need for improvements at Nigerian airports, including the installation of Wi-Fi across passenger areas, had caught her attention.
As the debate on aircraft age versus maintenance continues, it’s clear that the aviation sector in Nigeria remains focused on balancing modernization with safety protocols.
While Senator Buhari’s concerns may raise valid points, stakeholders are committed to ensuring that Nigeria’s aviation industry remains competitive and safe, regardless of the age of its fleet.
