Aviation incidents: Activist calls for urgent safety audit of Nigerian airlines
A civil society activist, Amb. Ahmed Shehu, has called on the Federal Government to order an immediate safety audit of private jet operators and commercial airlines following a series of reported aviation incidents in Nigeria.
Shehu made the call in a personal statement issued in Abuja on Saturday, expressing concern over what he described as a disturbing trend that threatens passenger safety and public confidence in the aviation sector.
He cited the latest incident involving a Challenger CL60 private jet, with registration number T7-SEI, operated by Triton Aviation, which reportedly lost its door mid-air shortly after take-off from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on Thursday, Oct. 15.
According to him, the aircraft, which was en route to Lagos with nine persons on board, comprising three crew members and six passengers, declared a Mayday at an altitude of 3,000 feet, about three nautical miles from the airport.
He said the aircraft subsequently made a safe emergency landing at 4:34 p.m., while the missing door was later recovered by farmers on farmland in Abuja.
Shehu noted that the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) had commenced an investigation into the incident.
He, however, expressed concern that the incident was part of a series of aviation mishaps recorded in the country in recent years.
He listed incidents involving an aircraft reportedly crashing in Igbokoda in October 2026, an Enugu Air Embraer E170 that allegedly overran the runway in Benin in July 2026, and a private jet that reportedly landed on a highway near Asaba in June 2026.
He also recalled a January 2025 incident in which a Max Air Boeing 737 reportedly lost a burning tyre during landing in Kano, as well as an Air Peace Boeing 737-500 that allegedly overran the runway in Port Harcourt in July 2025.
The activist further cited the April 2024 incident involving a Dana Air MD-83 that reportedly skidded off the runway in Lagos.
According to him, the incidents raise questions about aircraft maintenance, airworthiness and the effectiveness of regulatory oversight in the aviation industry.
Shehu commended the professionalism of air traffic controllers and emergency response teams at the Abuja airport, saying their swift response contributed to the safe outcome of the latest incident.
He, however, stressed that aviation safety should not depend on luck, urging the relevant authorities to take proactive measures to prevent future occurrences.
He called on the Federal Government and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to conduct an immediate safety audit of private jet operators and commercial airlines.
Shehu also urged the NSIB to expedite investigations into aviation incidents and publish its findings transparently to promote accountability and public confidence.
He called on the National Assembly to convene a public hearing on aviation safety, while urging airline operators to prioritise aircraft maintenance and strict compliance with safety standards.
“The safety of our skies is the safety of our nation,” he said.
