Last week, Federal Government banned the use of Boeing 737 Max planes in the country’s airspace.

This was as a result of an Ethiopian airlines jet that crashed shortly after take-off from Addis Ababa, killing all on board including two Nigerians.

According to the Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika, there is no cause for alarm as there is no operator using that type of airplane in the country.

He explained that the Nigeria Civil Avaition Authority has advised that nobody should fly into or out of the country using Boeing 737 Max 8 and Max 9, pending the determination of the actual cause of the crash in Ethiopia.

Nigeria is not the only country that banned the airline, other countries including Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, China and Canada to mention a few, have taken such step, pending the outcome of the investigation into the crash.

Although there has been no fatal plane accident in Nigeria since the crash of Dana Air in 2012, more still need to be done to maintain the relative respite from air crashes.

Air safety is a collective responsibility that requires the input and cooperation of every stakeholder, hence government should provide the needed infrastructures that will enhance air safety.

It is important for airline operators to ensure that they do not compromise safety in anyway.

Government should ensure that every airline has a structure for maintenance that meets international standards and equipment to improve on the safety in the aviation sector.

All the regulatory authorities in the aviation industry should be proactive in the discharge of duties.

This framework would promote national aviation safety standards in compliance with global best practices.

While air traffic volume is expected to increase in future, it is urgent to establish a safer and more efficient air traffic system.

Besides, government needs to enhance safety measures in various fields, by improving air transport environment by improving rescue and emergency service systems.

Fawzeeyah Kasheem

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