A comprehensive inquiry of the runway excursion involving an Enugu Air aircraft at the Benin Airport has been demanded by Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC). Obi has described the incident as a reminder of the need to improve aviation safety throughout Nigeria.
In response to the incident, which involved an Enugu Air aircraft during landing at the airport, Obi made the request in a statement that was shared on his official social media page on Friday.
The former governor of Anambra State expressed his relief upon discovering that all 68 passengers and crew members on board the aircraft managed to escape unharmed.
“The news of the runway excursion involving an Enugu Air aircraft during its landing at Benin Airport today came to me with great relief,” Obi stated.
He emphasised that the safety of human life must continue to be the top priority in the aviation industry while expressing thanks that everyone on board the aircraft disembarked without incident.
Additionally, Obi praised the pilot, aircraft crew, and emergency response officials at the Benin Airport for their prompt and expert handling of the incident.
He said, “I applaud the pilot, the flight crew, and the airport emergency response teams at Benin Airport for their prompt and expert handling of the situation, which prevented what could have been a major tragedy.”
According to the former governor, the incident highlights how crucial it is to strictly adhere to aviation safety regulations, maintain aircraft on a regular basis, and make ongoing investments in airport infrastructure.
He called on the Nigerian Safety inquiry Bureau (NSIB) and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to conduct a thorough, open, and prompt inquiry to ascertain what caused the tragedy.
“I implore the relevant regulatory and investigative bodies—especially the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA)—to carry out a comprehensive, open, and prompt investigation into the underlying cause of this incident,” Obi continued.
According to Obi, the incident’s lessons should be applied to improve aviation safety and guarantee that Nigeria’s skies remain secure for all travellers.