….to probe prolonged airspace closures
Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced the financial commitment on behalf of the National Assembly, describing it as recognition of the young footballers’ contribution to Nigeria’s reputation in international sports.
By Mmesoma Onwuka
365Daily – The Senate has announced a N100 million reward for the country’s Under 17 women’s national football team, the Flamingos, while also ordering an investigation into prolonged airspace restrictions linked to the movement of Very Important Personalities (VIPs).
These decisions formed part of deliberations during Tuesday’s plenary, where lawmakers addressed issues ranging from national sports development to aviation safety and the welfare of air travellers.
On the sporting achievement, Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced the financial commitment on behalf of the National Assembly, describing it as recognition of the young footballers’ contribution to Nigeria’s reputation in international sports.
The announcement followed a motion sponsored by Senator Abdul Ningi, representing Bauchi Central, who called for appropriate national recognition and rewards for the players.
Akpabio assured the team of the Senate’s commitment, saying, “From the National Assembly, even if we do not have anything else to give these children, we will make a token of N100 million to them immediately.”
Ningi argued that the Flamingos deserved special recognition, particularly against the background of recent disappointments involving other national football teams, including the Super Eagles and Super Falcons.
He commended the players for their performance against established opponents, noting that the team had been assembled barely six months before the competition.
The senator also expressed concern over the limited publicity surrounding their achievement and the absence of senior government officials during their reception upon arrival in Nigeria.
Supporting the motion, Senator Ned Nwoko described the players as national heroes, highlighting their performances against countries such as Brazil and the United States.
He urged President Bola Tinubu to accord the team national recognition and encouraged state governors to celebrate players from their respective states.
Another lawmaker also praised the team’s victory over Japan, describing it as a demonstration of the ability of Nigerian youths to compete internationally.
Beyond financial compensation, the Senate called on the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to retain the current squad to preserve the understanding and teamwork developed during the competition.
Akpabio also appealed to wealthy Nigerians, business leaders and sports enthusiasts to provide additional incentives for the players.
The Senate further commended Tinubu for his commitment to sports development and recognised the contributions of the National Sports Commission, particularly its chairman, Malam Shehu Dikko.
In a separate deliberation, lawmakers raised concerns over repeated airspace closures during VIP movements, warning that the practice had resulted in prolonged flight delays and could expose passengers and aircraft to safety risks.
The Senate’s intervention followed a motion sponsored by Senator Isah Jibrin, who questioned the procedures guiding airspace restrictions and the coordination among aviation authorities.
Consequently, the upper chamber directed its Committee on Aviation to investigate the circumstances surrounding the closures and engage the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) and Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
The committee was given two weeks to submit its findings.
The lawmakers also urged aviation authorities to consider diverting affected aircraft to alternative airports instead of keeping them airborne for extended periods while awaiting clearance.
Contributing to the debate, Senator Diket Plang, representing Plateau Central, called for improved coordination of flight schedules, arguing that commercial aircraft should not be permitted to depart for destinations where restrictions have already been scheduled for VIP movements.
Drawing from his experience as a former station manager with Kabo Air in Kano in 1996, Plang said aviation authorities must pay closer attention to departure and landing schedules to prevent avoidable conflicts.
He warned that poor airspace management could result in serious consequences, particularly when aircraft are unable to maintain sufficient fuel reserves during unexpected delays.
“If we don’t manage the space, it can lead to calamity,” he cautioned.
Similarly, Senator Abdul Ningi described the recurring delays as a serious national concern, faulting aviation regulators for inadequate supervision and enforcement of operational standards.
He also insisted that the National Assembly must take responsibility for ensuring that the agencies under its oversight perform their duties effectively.
Recounting a recent experience, Ningi disclosed that a flight from Kano that ordinarily takes about 40 minutes lasted two and a half hours because of airspace-related restrictions.
He further criticised airlines and aviation authorities for failing to provide passengers with adequate explanations when flights are delayed for several hours.
Senate President Akpabio also recounted an incident during his tenure as governor when passengers, including himself, were kept inside a bus for approximately three hours while waiting to board an aircraft.
He attributed the delays to restrictions being imposed long before the actual movement of VIPs, explaining that commercial aircraft are sometimes forced to circle in the air while passengers remain stranded at airports.
According to him, airspace closures could begin even before the President had completed engagements at a location and could remain in force throughout the journey to the airport and subsequent departure preparations.
Akpabio warned that prolonged holding patterns could create additional safety concerns, particularly where aircraft have to contend with changing weather conditions and diminishing fuel reserves.
He also disclosed that he had received information suggesting that a recent aircraft crash in Nigeria was linked to fuel exhaustion while the aircraft was reportedly circling in the air awaiting clearance.
However, he clarified that he was yet to receive the official investigation report and could not confirm the actual circumstances surrounding the incident.
The Senate President subsequently directed the Committee on Aviation, chaired by Senator Abdulfatai Buhari, to immediately convene a meeting with the relevant aviation authorities.
He described the matter as life-threatening and urged the committee to establish whether similar airspace restrictions were imposed for other VIPs apart from the President.
The Senate also directed that its resolutions and proceedings on the Flamingo’s achievement be properly documented, while calling for sustained support for the young players and improved oversight of the country’s aviation sector.