The State of the Nigerian Nation: Has Form trumped Content in the Aviation Industry? On December 15, 2012, the nation was thrown into mourning by the untimely death of former National Security Adviser, General Owoye Azazi and Governor, Kaduna State, Mr. Patrick Yakowa both of whom died in a helicopter crash in the forest of Okoroba Community, Bayelsa State while returning from a funeral of the parent of a top government functionary. That helicopter crash brought the number of air mishaps to 44 in Nigeria from November 20, 1969 when the Nigerian Airways BAC VC10 crashed, killing about 87 people on board. I recall vividly the abrupt cancellation of my appointment with a (now) former Minister who had to cut short his travel to hurriedly return to Abuja. Many would have easily assumed that with the late Azazi and Yakowa’s demise and the Federal Government’s renovation of physical aviation infrastructure, the spate of wanton waste of human lives (especially those of the crew members who are hardly ever remembered) would be considerably reduced. Unfortunately, at about 9.30am at the domestic wing of the Murtala Muhammed airport, the curtains were abruptly drawn on about 13 passengers including a Commissioner Mr. Deji Falae, popular Mortician and owner of MIC Caskets, Tunji Okusanya and his son and a few other passengers on board a of 5N-BJY charted plane operated by Associated Airline conveying the corpse of late Governor Olusegun Kokumo Agagu, plunged into an open field near the aviation fuel depot of the airport. The survivors, as we understand, are receiving treatment while former Governor Agagu’s corpse was reportedly intact. As reported, it was interred nevertheless on Friday, October 4, 2013. For late Governor Agagu, the philosophical/biblical musings of being born again and what it means to die again as a corpse hurriedly came to mind. While mourning with those concerned, this situation calls for a truly sober reflection of the state of our Nation at 53 where by sheer coincidence, the late former Governor Agagu also served not only as a governor but also as a Minister of Aviation. An irony of some sort, yet it could be anyone. The disaster re-echoed the apparent reality of the dearth of capacity in critical sectors of the Nigerian economy. It exposes the fact that some of our airplanes are indeed flying coffins, a situation where the dead are burying the dead, a dramatic situation of a corpse ‘surviving’ an air crash whereas the living die, a funeral begetting another funeral (State or no State), an Undertaker falling victim of his stock in trade. I pause and wonder, what is all these dis-equlibrum? Are we in a jungle? Or are there no laws or regulations which guide and guard operations in the aviation industry? Or is there more concentration in form rather than content in the aviation industry? These are certainly no rhetorical questions. They are questions which deserve answers and must be answered. Sadly, but I see the departed musician and social conscience lyrics of Fela Anikulapo-Kuti coming frighteningly alive rendering his …na double wahala for dedi (dead) body and the owner of dedi body… . The honest truth is, there is no exemption, private or commercial, all have recently proven unsafe. As I put this down with grief in my heart, my professional calling no doubt enquired whether Nigeria’s problem(s) is inadequate regulatory and compliance mechanisms guiding the sector. This is commonly asked. I am very quick to dispense with that question as I am aware that the National Aviation Policy was recently approved by the Executive Council at its sitting sometimes in May 2013. This Policy, amongst several other Laws, coincidentally was approved to boost development in the aviation sector in line with international standards; as well as tighten the operations of private jets in Nigeria. Today and notwithstanding the plethora of Aviation Laws and Regulations (and indeed other laws), there are increasing safety concerns with nearly every means of transportation in Nigeria. If you travel by road, you could get kidnapped. By air, meet untimely death through air crash, by sea, hijacked by pirates. What then has happened to the social contract between the Nigerian government and its citizens to protect lives? Why has it suddenly become safer to travel on a British Airways or Virgin Atlantic on a long haul journey rather than our domestic airlines. One then is constrained to ask, are we a failed or a failing State? Should the national conference (with or without the sovereign prefix) being convened under Senator Okunrounmu’s leadership not focus more on the increasing breach of the social contract between the Government and its citizens? Should the near ‘shut-down’ of nearly all sectors of our economy not form the focus of the debates at such National Conference? Or is it only politics that matters? These are no rhetorical questions. They need and must be answered. I must pause here to again commiserate with the Agagus’, Falaes’, Okusanyas’ and in particular, families of all crew members on board. It may be me or you tomorrow, who knows? Death has suddenly become too cheap on this divide. Whoever is charged with the responsibility eliminating these disasters should regard himself accountable to God. Nigeria is inanimate; we are its life essence, heartbeat, dreams, achievements, successes as well as failures. Let us play our part diligently. God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Posted on: Tue, 08 Oct 2013 13:45:55 +0000
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