“It’s Wrong To Suspend Dana-Air Before Investigations,” Airline Operators Slam FG

The Airline Operators of Nigeria has distant themselves from the action of the federal government on the suspension of Dana airline over the last Sunday’s plane crash, blaming the government for suspending the license of the airline when investigation is still ongoing to ascertain the real cause of plane crash

Speaking with journalists in Abuja on Wednesday, the Secretary General, AON, Captain Mohammed Joji, also stated that it was completely out of place for the Senate to have moved for the suspension of the Director-General, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Dr. Harold Demuren  as a result of the plane crash, relying on the argument that one cannot be persecuted when investigation has not been concluded on a matter.

The Senate had worked in line with the petition brought before it by the Chairman of its Committee on Aviation, Senator Hope Uzodinma, who had recommended that Demuren and other top management officials of NCAA put under suspension until the current investigation was over.

But Joji on the contrary had debunked the move with the argument that the NCAA officials cacnot  be suspended until after the investigation .

Faulting the suspension of the operating license of  Dana by the Federal Government through the NCAA on Monday, Joji said “it is necessary for investigation to be carried out before far reaching actions, such as the suspension of the airline’s operations would be carried out”

He further affirmed that, “It is wrong to close down an airline after an accident before investigation has been done. It is necessary to give time for investigation.

“Dana has three aircraft. One was involved in an accident. They fly 27 sorties (return trips) a day. Everything went well from 2007 when they started operations. It is not enough to suspend their operation after this incident.

“We are not supporting wrong doing but we need to be objective. It could have been another airline. The country has lost so much through the insecurity situation. Do you say because of that the President or any of the service chiefs should resign?”