Vanguard Editorial, Nigeria Air’s Sudden return and Nigeria’s wickedness!

Since Aero contractors ( the oldest airline in Nigeria) bowed out due to high cost of operations and Dana was suspended for what the NCAA termed “an ongoing audit” the remaining operating airlines have jacked up their fares. Would anyone blame them?

The situation in the aviation industry is not peculiar to it alone as other industries are presently suffering with the current inflation rate and depreciating naira under our clueless brother Emiefele who seems clueless on efficient monetary policy strategies. let me not even talk about the rudderlessness of Nigeria as it were. It’s a story for another day.

As a young journalist with a very popular magazine during the military era ( which became Abacha’s nightmare) I was taught to understand that editorials are well researched, well written, insightful, credible and sacred piece of writing but I was taken aback by the recent editorial by vanguard newspapers dated July 26th 2022, with the title Dana Air’s indefinite suspension,” Haba!..why would any through- bred media person write such clearly sponsored nonsense for the gullible public? Editorial? Have we lost our senses? This is what we used to call editorial nonsense in my days!

First the article reads: ” Dana has tried to remain in business at all cost. We call on the NCAA never to allow this airline to reopen shop in the interest of the lives and property of air travellers”….common? Is this the only airline to have had a crash or serious incidents? It’s a no brainer! Google it and see. why do we recruit lazy journalist these days? Oh, I forgot that the article looks like a sponsored one but how will a credible media house like vanguard allow it’s precious soul to be used for a meagre amount?

How did the airline try at all cost to remain in business when there is a sound regulator per excellence as DG of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority? Is it now your job to advise the NCAA? Are you an aircraft engineer to advise the NCAA ? That is one of our biggest problems in this country. Every tout in the street knows your job and can do it better! So did the NCAA not do its job by grounding the airline for an audit? Why not allow the regulator to do its job and let us know if the airline will pass or not? Are you saying the regulator is as corrupt?

The article also mentioned that other airlines like azman, aero, Arik, and air peace have maintained their safety record. Is the writer actually for real? Is the writer a motor park tout ? ( apologies to Former President Jonathan)

Let me help the writer with a little expose’. There are FREE websites you can visit and you will get all the info you need about airline incidents but I will not give the writer for free. I would rather use a little bit of Google since the writer doesn’t have small data to research and write a simple, truthful and clear article as an editorial.

On 6th of November 2019, air peace Nigeria’s biggest airline undoubtly had it’s Owerri bound flight suffer engine failure. Google it, it’s there. Another incident on 9th of July 2022, same air peace had an emergency air return to Lagos due same reason. Also google air peace aircraft change in cabin pressure. What could have caused it if not engine? But air peace handled that well.

Going forward, on the 4th of January 2019, azman suffered an engine failure, 20th of March 2021 same incident and lots more. Also on 13th November 2016 Arik made an emergency landing due to noisy engine, and max had it’s fair share on 19the May 2021 and 8th Sept 2019 when it’s 747 went off the runway. The list is endless and no Nigerian airline can claim not to have had any serious incidents. So why write such poorly researched editorial? Or is writer also waiting for refunds from Dana like me? Because for me, I am just waiting for the airline to resume and refund me immediately for my cancelled port Harcourt flight.

I had to take my time to address this as result of the increasing rate of sponsored fake news flying around even as we approach the most decisive era of this country: the 2023 elections! Nigerians should expect more of such. We need to do better as a nation.

Now to my second reason for writing on Nigeria’s wickedness. It is instructive to note that it is when domestic airlines started struggling with the lingering and unaddressed high cost of operations particularly the screaming cost of Jet A1 that our dear Government instead of tackling the issues, approved 3 aircraft for take off of Nigeria Air.

If I may ask, why is the airline coming up now that domestic airlines are dying? Where will this airline get it’s Jet A1? You want to wetlease aircraft for our dear Nigeria Air in a forex challenged and naira depreciating country? Are you starting your own airline and killing others deliberately? Then air peace needs to be careful at this time if this is the strategy.

The Nigerian government needs to look inwards and allow a level playing field for all carriers. While we all crave for a national carrier established on clear principles but don’t kill other businesses because Nigerians also work there and we need to keep this economy running.

This is bad business practice. I pity my brother Allen onyema because he will be the worst hit if we allow the government get away with this wickedness.

I rest my case!

God bless Nigeria

Samson Chikezie
A journalist writes from the FCT