I was using Windows Live Messenger this morning, when I was alerted to a breaking news. Plane carrying 104 people crashes in Nigeria.
This is indeed a shame. For how long will Nigeria be loosing its citizens to air crashes and road accidents? One might think that the roads are not safe, and as such want to turn to air travel but its not obvious that Nigeria’s airspace is not safe either. The rich and powerful by default, travel by air in Nigeria when long distances are involved. It is thus not surprising that the following people were lost. This is a report by ThisDay newspaper:
The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Maccido, his son, Senator Badamoci Maccido, the Deputy Governor of Sokoto, Alhaji Garba Mohammed and the son of Second Republic President Shehu Shagari were among the over 100 people feared dead as a commercial airliner, Aviation Development Co (ADC) crashed after take off from Lagos to Sokoto en route to Abuja.
Others in the aircraft were Senator Sule Yari Ghandi and a PDP Gubernatorial aspirant in Sokoto, Alhaji Uwais Yaro Bodinga.
Well, according to CNN:
Nigeria has a poor air safety record, with at least 11 crashes since 1995 that have killed more than 500 people.
The last crash involving ADC happened in November 1996 and killed all 146 people aboard the Boeing 727. That flight went down in Imota, Nigeria, after the pilot lost control of the plane while trying to avoid a head-on collision with another aircraft.
Is there anything more to say? I doubt.
The year is 2006 and a country that supposely should be or claims to be the “Giant of Africa” has recorded 3 plane crashes within a 12 months period. Well, if this is not a major food for thought, tell me what it is.
I remember one time my mom had to travel to Accra, I couldn’t understand why she’d refuse to fly despite making a passionate appeal. A novice like me who has been living overseas for quite some time did not understand that getting on a plane is like going to war, there is a 50-50 chance of not coming back home. Now it all makes sense. Flying in Nigeria constitute a major hazard.
And as if it’s not embarrasing enough, one of the ministers the other day was pointing accusatory fingers as to the cause of the crash. Well, I’m sure drastic measures would be made someday when another important dignitary is lost in yet another air disaster. God help us.
Do you know Jenyo and funmi aladejebi? Give my email address to them
Leke, how did you know them? And what is your e-mail address?