Press Release: MISSING PLANE: TOTAL RADAR COVER NOW! 25th March ‏2008

The whole nation has been under tension since a week ago when a small plane with three people on board disappeared. The plane reportedly left Abuja for Calabar in Cross River State seven days ago.  

It is disheartening that air disasters have remained a recurring decimal in Nigeria despite repeated pledges from the authorities that steps would be taken to stem this unfortunate trend. These pledges have turned out to be mere lip service as little or nothing have been done to safeguard the Nigerian air space and to ensure the security of air travelling.

Reports show that many of the planes used by local airlines are obsolete and can best be described as ‘molue’ in the air. The cargo aircrafts are rickety and disused. Aviation authorities are lackadaisical in their attitude towards using modern equipments. It is a shame that Nigeria is still using a tracking equipment that was installed in 1978! The type of radar used all over the world to guarranty safety is Total Radar Cover (TRC).  It is TRC that can track any plane within our air space any where in Nigeria.

Money for the purchase of TRC was allegedly released in 2006 after the Sosoliso crash yet nothing seems to have been done. The Lagos TRC is still under construction. The plan is to start those of Abuja and other places after the completion of the Lagos project.

We of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) condemn this dangerous and irresponsible procrastination. It lacks vision. It is myopic, archaic and retrogressive. We charge Mr. President to take the bull by the horns. Total Radar Cover must be installed with immediate effect. All planes plying the Nigerian air space must carry tracking equipments. Enough of butcher mentality in our air space.

Dr. Is-haq Akintola
DIRECTOR