Aviation Safety is Key to National Development — Sen. Fatai Buhari Moves Motion on Sectoral Challenges

…as Senate Mandates Aviation Committee to Unravel Sectoral Problems

Senator Fatai Buhari has emphasized that aviation safety is fundamental to national development, stressing the need to strengthen measures that guarantee passenger confidence and sectoral growth.

He made this known on the floor of the Senate while moving a motion on the need to enhance safety in the aviation sector, following the recent Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) report on the Air Peace runway incident that occurred at the Port Harcourt International Airport on June 22, 2025.

Senator Buhari, who chairs the Senate Committee on Aviation and Aerospace Development, noted that although no lives were lost in the incident, the occurrence exposed critical gaps in safety standards, infrastructure management, and operational compliance within Nigeria’s aviation sector.

According to him, Nigeria has in recent years recorded a worrying rise in runway-related incidents, near-misses, and operational safety challenges, underscoring the urgent need for reform.

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Contributing to the motion, Senators Orji Uzor Kalu and Mohammed Gone reiterated the need for the Ministry of Aviation to intensify oversight and ensure that all relevant agencies and airlines strictly comply with safety regulations. They also urged the Ministry to fast-track the construction of a second runway at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

In his remarks, the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Jibrin Barau, commended Senator Buhari for his initiative, describing the motion as “timely and vital.”

“Aviation is a crucial sector of every economy. We cannot afford to treat aviation safety lightly, as it directly affects our people and our economy,” Barau said. “I have confidence in the committee chairman — a diligent and experienced legislator who has served in both the House of Representatives and the Senate — to deliver a thorough and result-oriented job.”