At least six planes full of passengers were made to hover around the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, western Nigeria, on 20 September to allow President Goodluck Jonathan and his advanced team solely use the airspace, PM News reports.
The process, known as VIP movement, lasted for about two hours, starting some minutes to 9:00 a.m. and ending after 11:00 a.m.
A VIP movement in Nigeria’s aviation parlance means that the airspace is closed to other commercial or private planes until the VIP has landed and is away from the apron.
During such movements, other planes are made to hover except if there is an emergency.
The risky incident happened while President Jonathan was visiting the Synagogue Church of All Nations where a guesthouse collapsed on 12 September and killed at least 115 people most of them South Africans.
The airspace was first closed some minutes to 9:00 a.m. for the President advanced team. It was opened for some minutes but closed again almost immediately.
A Dana plane scheduled to leave Lagos for Abuja at 9:00 a.m. did not take off until minutes after 11:00 a.m.
The aircraft had to be refuelled to compensate for the two hours lost while the VIP movement lasted.
A Lagos – Abuja flight last only about an hour, and the aircraft is fuel sufficiently enough for that distance.
When the airspace was reopened, our correspondent counted at least six big planes that landed before other parked aircraft were allowed to proceed.
VIP movements are not new in Nigeria and did not start with the administration of Jonathan, but many Nigerians have said the risk for hundreds of passengers in hovering planes outweigh the benefits.
This, they say, is also because many people are not yet convinced that the Nigerian Airspace is safe again.
But a security official who wanted to remain anonymous said with current security challenges in Nigeria, VIPs should be adequately protected.
He said there was nothing wrong in protecting the life of the president, especially as he puts his own life on the line to protect Nigerians.
VIP movement also covers the wife of the president, Patience, other heads of state and some high ranking political office holders.
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So why is an event that happened 9days ago news. Abeg Naija media @LEAVE MY JONA ALONE!
ReplyDeleteThe president has never ever visited any scene of death of the over twenty five thousand Nigerians who lost their lives under his watch. Not even Chibok where over 230 students were kidnapped.
ReplyDeleteBut look at him running to Synagogue to stand beside TB Joshua whose negligence cost 115 their lives.
if any want it said not it can be understand now base on this visiting of the Nation president to synagogue collapse building of TB Josuah having claim life in some minutes just like boko haram and the president take it fit for him visit just for hand shake of well done for quarter contribution of blood let and decide to keep 6 planes hovering for 2 hours risking the life hundreds Nigerians is an attempt for another blood let he should not do that next time.
ReplyDeleteTerrible grammar! you do not have to comment, please get back to nursery school or better still continue with your cattle rearing.
DeleteNigeria jaga, everything scatter scatter. When Idris sang that song they thought he was crazy or was on cheap drugs. I don't know shay but two hour shows how disorganized our aviation industry is. I have experienced such delay for like 30 mins before but never knew 2hours was possible. what if while hovering another building collapse? lol. NIJA WE HAIL THEE.
ReplyDeleteFor crying out loud, how long will it take a presidential aircraft to take off and land? So everybody should hover in the air or be grounded on the tarmac because the President is passing. How Democratic is that? Davis Cameron and even the Queen of England who have more red dots on their heads than Prez Jona, boared public BA aircrafts with their citizens. Africans will always design their version of everything. What will be will be. Is the President afraid of a terrorist crashing a plane into his? If he were to die in such a manner, VIP restrictions would not save him. There is need for decorum and consideration in all things to be done. People would have missed appointments (just as Mr. President was to meet the handshake appointment), been late to work or suffered some other inconvenience. In the end, it's counterproductive to the President and his image. VIP restriction may not be a bad thing, but it can be done much more sensibly.
ReplyDelete