AVIATION INFO &THE BUDDING GOEBBELS

I was thinking of a deserved rest from aviation related issues and join the growing list of siddon look, when I heard the half-state of emergency declared by Mr. President in the three northern states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa. I use the word half-state because troops moved enmasse into the affected states under new rules of engagement, while all the governors and other political appointees were allowed to retain their seats. The media was also awash with the half-state of emergency declared by the Ministry of Aviation, where the GM Corporate Communication (FAAN) was appointed the Coordinating Manager for Information and Communication for all agencies under the Ministry, with other officers retaining their seats in the different agencies. This is an aberration and an elevation of propaganda in the industry, while the President is fighting the implacable and unidentifiable terrorists, who is the Ministry fighting? The appointment is a strange novel in the industry; it is also not a surprise considering his penchant for defending the Ministry and propagating their activities at the expense of FAAN, his constituency. The pain here is that barely a week after the World Bank complained of excessive political interference in the agencies, we are declaring a state of emergency in information management. The regulators, NCAA and the new baby NAERU are also to clear their press releases through the new appointee, who represents an agency they regulate. Incidentally, he advised some days ago that aviation should be taken from the Madding Crowd. Please practice what you preach. Regarding Amaechi’s jet, the pyrrhic excitement should stop; we should rather use the opportunity to correct all the ills in private jet operation, which stand till this moment. All the relevant agencies responsible for monitoring and coordinating the operations of this category of operators are guilty and have persistently failed to deliver the dividends of corporate jet operations. That aircraft had clearance up to the 4th of April, 2013, yet it kept flying in the Nigerian airspace till the 26th of April, 2013. On that day with the same clearance and untidy sheet, it departed PH for Owerri, thereafter Akure. Who gave start up in PH and Owerri? The speaker of the House of Representatives simply dropped a member of his team and asked Gov. Ameachi to hop with him from Akure when the governor’s aircraft had issues. Did the speaker’s team present a new manifest to reflect the new passenger? The prosecution option of the Ministry, rather than penalties as accepted in civil aviation coupled with concurrent press statements and the inability to probe other violators in that sector tilts towards witch hunting.