Senate probes Air Peace runway overrun in Port Harcourt

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The Senate has launched a comprehensive investigation into the recent Air Peace runway overrun at the Port Harcourt International Airport.

This is as it also raised concerns about substance abuse and lax supervision among aviation personnel.The decision followed a motion sponsored by Sen. Buhari Abdulfatai (APC-Oyo) during Wednesday’s plenary.

The motion cited the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) report on the June 22 incident involving an Air Peace Boeing 737-500 aircraft.

Abdulfatai said that although no lives were lost, the NSIB report exposed serious safety lapses, including poor runway conditions, inadequate airfield lighting, and weak regulatory oversight.

“Nigeria has in recent years witnessed an increase in runway-related incidents and near-misses that could undermine public confidence and endanger lives if not urgently addressed,” he said.

In its resolutions, the upper chamber urged the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to urgently implement safety recommendations contained in the NSIB report.

It also called on the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to strengthen compliance monitoring, conduct routine audits of airports, and enforce adherence to international safety standards.

The lawmakers directed FAAN to prioritise rehabilitation of runways, provide airfield lighting, and install modern navigational aids nationwide, beginning with Port Harcourt International Airport.

During the debate, Sen. Orji Uzor Kalu (APC-Abia) expressed deep concern over alleged drug use and poor supervision among pilots, describing it as a “deadly and growing threat” to Nigeria’s aviation safety. Vanguard