Aviation
Saudi Arabia Cargo landing mishap stalls Odua’s appearance in senate
…As IGP, Service Chiefs failed to brief senate on emergency rule
ABUJA – THE landing problem of the Saudi Arabia Cargo Aircraft at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport yesterday stalled the appearance of the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah to the senate on issues surrounding aviation sector and some of the recent air mishaps that have claimed lots of lives in the country.
Meantime, the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Lt. Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika and his counterpart in navy Vice Admiral dele Ezeoba were among the security chiefs that also could not appear before senate to give situation reports on the security situation in the country as it concerns the emergency rule in the three states of the North East.
Princess Odua and the Chief Executive Officers of parastals under the aviation Ministry were scheduled for the third time to appear before the senate on Thursday but the landing problem of the Saudi Arabia cargo aircraft made them to once again reschedule their appearance to Tuesday next week.
Briefing journalists on the reason that stalled the appearance of the minister, Chairman, Senate Committee on Aviation Hope Uzodinma said that because of the closure of the runway of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, princess Odua was unable to honour the invitation.
Senator Uzodinma said, “Definitely, we will not be able to continue today because of the emergency development. The 747 aircraft cargo aircraft belonging to Saudi Arabia airline has some problems landing into Abuja and as result, the runway is closed and has disrupted flight operations since morning.
“So all the agencies in the aviation ministry with their chief executives are all there battling to ensure that the aircraft is removed from the runway and normal operations start again. Julius Berger has been invited; they are working with Accident Investigation Bureau, AIB and the rest of them and senior officers FAAN, NCAA.
“So it has become very necessary that we allow them sufficient time solve that national challenge. We have been able to take Tuesday, which is the next legislative day, after session by 2 o’clock to now have the minister and her team in audience. So it is necessary to let you know so that the story is said in the right perspective. That is how we have seen it and that is where we are now.”
It will be recalled that the first time the minister was billed to appear before the senate, the U-17 World cup stalled it because the Senate President David Mark who had indicated interest in being present at the senate was nominated to lead the Federal Government delegation to Saudi Arabia, though Mark had flight challenges and could not make the trip.
The second time was when the senate rescinded its decision that the minister should appear at the planary and directed that she rather appear before the Senate Committee on Aviation.
On the absence of the security chiefs, Chairman, Senate Committee on Information, Media and Public Affairs, Enyinnaya Abaribe said, “The planned briefing by the Service Chiefs and the heads of the other security agencies including the Inspector General of Police could not hold because it is a very delicate issue and we found that some of the heads of these agencies and military formations were not available.
“We felt that what we are trying to get is of sufficient importance to the nation that we felt that we would not get the comprehensive briefing if those persons were not present. Therefore we resolved to postpone the briefing to another legislative day and we will also meet and give another date to the Service Chiefs to come to brief us.”
Senator Abaribe however, said that the Security Chiefs did not give reasons for their absence, but that “They did not say so. They just felt that there were some logistic reasons that made them not to be available and that that is why we decided to postpone the briefing.”
Commenting on the feelings of the senate on the recent attack in Maiduguri, Senator Abaribe said, “You will recall that they were to come to brief us on Tuesday and we postponed it till today to be able to also have briefing on what happened last Monday.
“Of course, the Senate does not feel particularly happy about. We are very worried about the security situation and that is why we wanted a firsthand briefing and that is the reason we felt that we would not want to do briefing that some units would do the briefing and some would say let us come later.
“We want everybody to be available so that we can get a comprehensive view of it. The Senate is very worried about what happened in Maiduguri.”
on the pending 2014 budget and the controversy over the benchmark by the two legislative chambers, he said, “Well the committee (Conference Committee) has not met principally because of the members of the committee nominated by the House of Representatives.
“I think a couple of them are not in the country and the House had to have a time to nominate other people in their place and we are expecting that will be done as soon as possible and once that is done we will meet and definitely we will come to a very quick inclusion on the matter because we are also worried that the budget is still not available to the National Assembly and to Nigerians as a whole.”
– VANGUARD
An Air Peace flight from Lagos to Port Harcourt has suffered a disruption, after the aircraft was affected by a bird strike on arrival at the Port Harcourt International Airport.
The airline made the disclosure on Thursday in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Osifo-Whiskey Efe.
He added that the incident necessitated safety checks on the affected aircraft and the deployment of another aircraft to convey passengers on subsequent flights.
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“We deeply empathise with passengers affected by this unforeseen incident and are working diligently to minimise disruptions,” Efe said.
The latest incident adds to the growing challenge of bird strikes faced by local airlines.
In December 2025, Air Peace disclosed that it recorded 49 bird strikes across Nigeria between January and September, stressing that even a single strike could ground an aircraft for weeks.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the airline, Allen Onyema, had said on Arise TV that bird strikes constituted a major operational challenge, often leading to costly repairs and serious disruptions to flight schedules.
“One bird strike could cripple your aircraft for the next month. At that moment, there is no two ways about it. These bird strikes often lead to costly delays and serious disruptions in flight schedules,” he said.
He added that losses from such incidents compound other challenges facing Nigerian airlines, including heavy taxation and operational constraints.
With the firm belief that it is both sadistic and absolutely despicable, the recently announced outrageous hike in airfares to South East from Abuja to Lagos for Yuletide of 2025 by over 131 percent by Air Peace and United Nigeria Airlines, the owners have been asked to immediately have a rethink and review backward these harsh, toxic and unfriendly airfares targeting Igbo passengers exclusively.
Making the charge to the chairmen of Air Peace and United Nigeria airlines, Mr. Allen Ugochukwu and Mr. Obiora Okonkwo, the prominent civil rights advocacy group, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) expressed anger that these businesses whose proprietors are Igbo by birth are fond of making it so difficult for hundreds of thousands of Igbo passengers residing outside of the South-East to travel home on Christmas festivities.
The rights group say that for many years now, because Air Peace and United Nigeria Airlines are monopolies and then Igbos have the tradition exclusively in Nigeria of going home to South East from all over the globe during Yuletides, these few airlines have decidedly fixed toxic ticketing airfares for Igbos whereas northerners who also travel during their religious festivities of salah are not subjected to such exploitative treatments.
The HURIWA accused the two airlines of price fixing, which is anti-competition just as the Rights group said it is giving these two Igbo-hating airlines to review backward their toxic and discriminatory airfares within ten working days from today or it will petition the federal government publicly funding consumer rights body[Federal Competition and Consumer Rights Commission) in Abuja.
The HURIWA wonders if these Igbo owners of private airlines known for making their planes available to government for free during emergencies are in a conspiratorial plots with haters of Igbo land who are unhappy at the convivial and happy atmospheres in the South East during Yuletide, just as the rights group has appealed to Igbo governors to immediately intervene and urge Mr. Allen Ugochukwu and Mr Obiora Okonkwo to treat the Igbo just as they treat for instance northern Muslims who also migrate home to northern Nigeria from around the globe during their Muslim festivities because what is good for the goose, is good for the gander.
The HURIWA said that if Air Peace Airlines have gotten involved in many humanitarian efforts of airlifting Nigerians from outside of our shores for free, it becomes of the Airline ought not to maltreat their clients of Igbo extraction.
The HURIWA quoted from the business official website of Air Peace in which it described its latest humanitarian effort to be an addition to a growing list of interventions by Dr. Allen Onyema and Air Peace.
Quoting Air Peace website, HURIWA stated that Air Peace said thus: “In 2019, the airline airlifted 503 Nigerians free of charge from South Africa amidst xenophobic attacks. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Air Peace conducted multiple repatriation flights. In 2022, the airline flew Nigerian evacuees out of war-torn Ukraine. In May 2023, Dr. Onyema again deployed Air Peace aircraft to evacuate 277 stranded Nigerians from Sudan.
As the rescued women prepare to begin a new chapter, supported by medical care and reintegration efforts, one truth stands out: Air Peace is more than just an airline — it is a bridge of hope for Nigerians in crisis, and a national symbol of empathy, courage and service,” HURIWA conclusively quoted Air Peace.
The HURIWA therefore strongly condemns the two airlines for hiking and fixing unaffordable airfares indiscriminately against Igbo passengers, even as the festive season draws near, Air Peace and United Nigeria Airlines have raised their return ticket fares to N677,000, a move that could add financial strain on travellers. The rise in airfares reflects the high demand expected during the holiday rush.
Key Points
Air Peace and United Nigeria increase return ticket fares to N677,000 for the yuletide season.
Airfares on routes to the South-East, including Enugu and Anambra, experience the highest surge.
Ibom Air offers comparatively cheaper tickets, with return fares at N381,600.
Air Peace’s one-way fare for December to January peaks at N350,500.
United Nigeria will also charge N350,500 for select routes between December 11 and the end of the year.
Northern routes, including Lagos-Kano, face smaller increases, with fares starting from N106,900.
Experts predict even higher airfares, with one-way tickets possibly reaching N500,000.
The rise in flight prices signals the start of a challenging holiday travel season, with airfares higher than usual due to increased demand. Travelers must be prepared for the surge, with some routes seeing even higher fare projections.
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The HURIWA is hereby warning the two airlines to withdraw their price fixing malpractices against Igbos or else the Rights group would seek justice and redress for the millions of Igbos who would return home for the 2025 Yuletide from the Federal Competition and Consumer Rights Commission and the National Human Rights Commission of Nigeria. The HURIWA threatened to drag the two airlines to the Nigerian President through the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Transportation.
An Abuja-Accra flight experienced technical difficulties mid-air on Friday, forcing it to return to Abuja, shortly after departure.
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Board (NSIB) made the disclosure in a statement, adding that it has launched investigation into what it described as a serious accident.
Director, Public Affairs and Family Assistance, NSIB, Bimbo Olawumi Oladeji stated that preliminary investigations revealed the aircraft experienced an engine number two indication issue.
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It was gathered that the aircraft, with registration number 5NKAL which was operating a flight from the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja (DNAA), to Kotoka International Airport, Accra (DGAA).
She explained that four persons were onboard when the incident occurred. The crew immediately requested for a diversion back to Abuja due to the engine indication.
Oladeji added that the crew managed to safely land the aircraft at Abuja Airport at 18:16 UTC.
There were no injuries reported, and all individuals on board are safe.
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