From Tony Akowe, Abuja
The House of Representatives on Tuesday frowned at the non-installation of Instrument Landing System in the nation’s airports despite budgetary provision and purchase of such equipment for the smooth operation of flights.
The House said as a result of the non-completion of the installation of the equipments especially at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos, Nigerians are being made to pass through untold hardship as their flights are being diverted to other countries and they are made to take care of themselves.
It described as careless, the attitude of the regulatory agencies at the airport, adding that though the ILS had been purchased, their installation and calibration were stalled due to disagreement among the agencies.
The House took the decision after a motion of urgent public importance was unanimously adopted.
Wale Raji, who sponsored the motion said over the years, there had been several clamours from stakeholders in the aviation industry and other well-meaning Nigerians for the Federal Government to adequately equip and upgrade the airports with modern landing equipment from the current Category 1 and 2 in use to Category 3 ILS.
He stated that the agitation was predicated on the high number of delayed and cancelled flights during the harmattan season and inclement weather conditions which make landing and takeoff of aircraft very difficult or near impossible.
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According to him, because of poor visibility, some foreign airlines are diverting their flights into Accra, Ghana and N’Djamena, Chad and some other neighbouring countries.
He said the Federal Government made budgetary provision of N7.8 billion for the procurement and installation of modern landing equipment in seven airports in Phase one comprising Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Port Harcourt, Katsina, Maiduguri and Sokoto airports.
He added that the CAT 3 ILS has recently been installed by Nigeria Airspace Management Agency, (NAMA) at the MMIA Lagos to enable pilots carry out approach to landing in zero visibility and see the runway no matter the weather conditions.
He expressed concern that the Category 3 ILS instrument installed is not functioning at its optimal capacity because of the non-availability of other supportive equipment like the runway and approach lights yet to be installed and upgraded.
He said the lack of cooperation amongst the aviation regulatory agencies on account of petty differences has negatively impacted on the efficient management of airports.
Olajide Olatubunsun said the process of planning and installation of the equipment was poor, questioning why the old equipment should be changed at the time when the weather in the country was bad.
He said the independence of the agencies operating at the port was questionable adding that the country has lost about five million Euro to flight diversions, while passengers whose flights were diverted to other destinations are left to take care of themselves.
James Faleke said it was embarrassing that tax payers money is use to buy equipment, but as a result of negligence, those equipment are not installed and used for what they are meant for.
Faleke said those responsible for the negligence should be held responsible.
Tobi Okechukwu said the traveling public in the country were being exposed to hardship because somebody is not doing his job, saying “the ILS are there, but they are talking about calibration. People responsible to this embarrassing situation should simply go.
The House resolved that all the relevant regulatory agencies and other stakeholders in the aviation sector should ensure that all the acquired landing equipment (Category 3 ILS and other supportive equipment) are installed in the designated airports without further delay to forestall further incidences of flight diversions to our airspace.
They also asked airline operators diverting flight to other countries and the regulatory authorities in Nigeria should share the responsibility of taking care of passengers travelling with such flights.
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