The Accident Investigation Bureau declared on Sunday that in the past 53 years, a total of 2,038 lives were lost to air crashes in Nigeria.
The AIB, therefore, tasked the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority to mandate airlines to develop assistance plans for the families of air crash victims in Nigeria.
Its Chief Executive Officer, Akin Olateru, disclosed this in Abuja at the 2022 International Day for the Commemoration of Air Crash Victims and their Families.
He said, “In Nigeria, from the year 1969 to 2022, a total of 2,038 (1996 onboard passengers and 42 on the ground) lives have been lost to air crashes.
“When an aircraft accident or serious incident occurs, it is always an unexpected and mostly fatal event that causes great distress and loss to the victims and their families.”
Olateru stated that to support families of victims of air crashes, the International Civil Aviation Organisation came up with policies to champion this.
“The ICAO policies and guidelines ensure that the needs of the victims and their families are addressed promptly,” he said.
The AIB boss added, “I, therefore, would like to use this opportunity to recommend that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority put in place effective policies and regulations that will mandate airline operators in the country to have Family Assistance Plans as part of their emergency plan or procedure.
“The NCAA should also ensure that such assistance programmes are supervised, exercised and audited appropriately.”
