Nigeria’s minister of Aviation, Babatunde Omotoba, told journalists on Wednesday that the Nigeria government is committed to air safety in the country.
Omooba said the contract approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for the Total Radar Coverage by the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency would further enhance safety in the Nigerian airspace.
He attributed the near fatal air collision, which almost claimed the life of the governor of Akwa Ibom State Godswill Akpabio, to an error by the Air Traffic Controller, who directed the two aircrafts.
According to the minister, the installed equipment enabled one of the aircraft to detect that another airplane was on a collision course with it.
Omotoba said the Air Traffic Controller had been suspended, while an investigation was ongoing to find out why only one of the aircraft was able to detect the near collision.
The Total Radar Coverage systems at the International Airports in Lagos and Abuja have already been completed while those in Port Harcourt and Kano are almost operational. The whole country is expected to be covered by the end of the year.
Source African Press Agency
