The Senate has opened a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the Air Peace runway overrun at the Port Harcourt International Airport, as well as other recurring incidents threatening safety in Nigeria’s aviation sector.
Leading the probe is Senator Abdulfatai Buhari, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Aviation, who has been directed to work with relevant agencies, including the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), and report back within six weeks.
During plenary, lawmakers expressed concern that despite several safety reports, runway accidents and near-misses continue to occur across major airports in the country. They urged the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development to swiftly implement the NSIB’s recommendations, strengthen compliance monitoring, and ensure strict enforcement of international safety standards.
The Senate particularly called on FAAN to prioritise runway rehabilitation, improve airfield lighting systems, and install modern navigational aids, beginning with the Port Harcourt International Airport. Lawmakers also emphasised the need for a second runway at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja to ease congestion and enhance operational safety.
While presenting the motion, Senator Buhari said the NSIB report on the June 22, 2025 Air Peace incident revealed serious lapses in infrastructure management and pilot decision-making. He added that the incident, though it resulted in no fatalities, exposed “critical gaps in safety standards, infrastructure management, and operational compliance” that could undermine public trust if left unaddressed.
The senator further raised alarm over the report’s findings that some crew members tested positive for alcohol and drug substances, describing it as “a dangerous trend that must be urgently corrected.” He warned that unless decisive measures are taken, such lapses could endanger lives and Nigeria’s reputation as a safe aviation hub in Africa.
