The Senate has ordered an urgent review of airport closures and airspace restrictions for Very Important Personalities (VIPs), warning that poor coordination could expose commercial aircraft to dangerous delays and potential aviation emergencies.
The resolution followed a motion by Senator Jibrin Isa, representing Kogi East, on Tuesday, after lawmakers raised concerns about passenger aircraft being kept airborne for extended periods while awaiting clearance to land during VIP movements.
The Senate directed the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) and Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to improve coordination and notify airline operators in advance of planned restrictions.
It also called for aircraft yet to depart to be held on the ground when restrictions are unavoidable, rather than allowing them to take off only to circle in the air. Aircraft already airborne should be diverted to suitable alternative airports when necessary.
The Senate Committee on Aviation was directed to engage the relevant authorities, with lawmakers insisting that presidential security arrangements must not compromise passenger safety.
Contributing to the debate, Senator Abdul Ningi, representing Bauchi Central, recounted a flight from Kano that was scheduled to last about 40 minutes but reportedly remained airborne for approximately two and a half hours because of VIP-related restrictions.
Ningi criticised what he described as inadequate protection for ordinary passengers and said aviation regulators and lawmakers must take responsibility for addressing the problem.
He also warned that prolonged delays and poor coordination could heighten risks during the approaching harmattan season. He called for the heads of the NCAA, NAMA and FAAN to appear before the Senate Committee on Aviation.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio also recounted an incident in which passengers were reportedly left inside an airport bus for about three hours after being transported towards their aircraft before a VIP movement disrupted operations.
Akpabio questioned why airports and airspace were sometimes restricted long before the President’s actual departure, arguing that such arrangements caused unnecessary disruption to commercial flights.
He warned that the situation could lead to an avoidable aviation accident if left unaddressed.
The Senate President also raised concerns about aircraft fuel reserves, noting that planes require sufficient fuel to divert safely when they cannot land at their intended destinations. He called for scrutiny of allegations that some operators compromise fuel requirements to maximise passenger capacity.
Senator Neda Emasuen, representing Edo South, proposed an amendment requiring authorities to make adequate arrangements for alternative airports during unavoidable restrictions. The amendment, seconded by Senator Kaka Shehu Lawan of Borno Central, was incorporated into the deliberations.
Akpabio subsequently directed the Senate Committee on Aviation to convene an urgent meeting with the relevant agencies to develop practical measures for managing VIP movements without exposing commercial flights to avoidable risks.
He also sought clarification on the categories of public officials entitled to airport and airspace restrictions, noting that the Vice-President was among those entitled to similar privileges.
The proposed engagement is expected to address advance notification, flight scheduling, ground delays and the diversion of aircraft when landing at their intended destinations becomes temporarily impossible.
