Max aircraft from flying in the country airspace.
This is coming few days after a Boeing 737 Max-8 plane operated by
Ethiopian Airlines, crashed in Addis Ababa, on its way to Nairobi, the
Kenyan capital, on Sunday.
Nigeria’s Minister for Aviation, Hadi Sirika, disclosed the country’s
decision on Wednesday, at the end of the Federal Executive Council (FEC)
meeting in Abuja.
The FEC meeting was presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Two Nigerians, Professor Pius Adesanmi and Ambassador Abiodun Bashua, were
among the 157 people onboard the ill-fated aircraft which crashed over the
weekend.
Speaking to state house correspondents, he said: “Regarding Boeing 737 Max
8 and Max 9 that has been in the news recently, there is no cause for
alarm as there is no operator in Nigeria that is using that type of
airplane.
“The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, whose mandate it is to issue
advisory, has already issued advisory that nobody should fly into Nigeria
or out of Nigeria using Boeing 737 Max 8 and Max 9, pending the
determination of the actual cause of the crash in Ethiopia and also
pending the outcome of the response of the manufacturer, which is Messers
Boeing.
“Regardless of the enormous safety records of this plane 737, it has
caused concern in the world of aviation and you know aviation is
universal; whatever affects one affects the other because aircraft will be
flying in and out. So, we have issued directive that no operator with
Boeing 737 Max 8 or Max 9 should operate into and outside our airports and
this is being carried out.”
Noting that two Nigerian airlines had ordered the aircraft, which would
take two years to deliver, the Aviation Minister said two years is enough
time for Boeing to address the cause of the crashes.
“Regarding Air Peace and Arik orders, whether those orders were confirmed
or intent, it is to our knowledge in the ministry that they won’t be in
the country until the next two years or so. And this is enough period to
sort out whatever problem it is with that plane. The world of aviation
will not be sleeping just as we in Nigeria will not be sleeping. And it is
normal standard practice that once a particular aircraft type is involved
in accident back to back, it is withdrawn from the market to see if there
is something they are doing wrong.
“And if it is confirmed that a particular problem, say for instance,
landing gear, they will issue an instruction to ground such plane
worldwide until the problem is fixed.”