By,; SUNDAY ODE, Abuja
Following near recent air mishaps by Dana Air, President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered a complete audit of the airline.
Recall that in February this year one of the emergency doors of the Dana Air aircraft conveying them fell off on landing at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
Two weeks later , a plane belonging to Dana Air overshot the runway in Port Harcourt on Tuesday after landing at the Port Harcourt Airport.
Speaking to State House correspondents yesterday after the federal executive council meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the presidential Villa, Senior special assistant media to the president, Garba Shehu said the government is concerned about the safety and life of Nigerians.
He said although there were no fatalities, the government had taken steps to investigate the two incidents with a view to finding solutions.
He said “A lot of quality time was spent discussing air safety ,the government of Nigeria is very much concerned about safety and the life of Nigerians, this is following the recent air incidents Minor as they were because they are no fatalities , the government did feel concern and the minister did the report to the council on steps that were taken following the last incident in Port Harcourt ,Dana aircraft overshooting the runaway.
“As soon as that happened, a few seconds, a rescue team was there on the ground and few moments thereafter made every passenger on board was evacuated , they was no harm to persons and this is something that should be celebrated .
“Within 24 hours an official investigation had commenced ,because investigators arrived in Port Harcourt and began work.One week after that a preliminary report was prepared and it was about this that the council was briefed.
” Consequently as announced by the aviation authorities, the engineer and Pilot of that particular aircraft got their licences both suspended and beyond that the government has ordered a complete audit of Dana airlines in terms of personel, operations ,technical capacity ,” he stated.
The presidential spokesman also said the Federal Executive Council has approved the augmentation of the contract sum for the rehabilitation of Burnt Marina Bridge and the Maintenance of Eko(Apobgbon) and Ido bridges in Lagos, in Favour of Messrs.
He added “Buildwell Plant and Equipment Industries Limited, in the sum of N114,424,225.05 representing 12 percent of original contract sum, thereby revising the contract sum from N957,053,316.45 to N1,071,29,541.40 with additional completion period of six months.
“Council also approved augmentation for Mango Dam, in Plateau State to N7.66 billion from original cost of N5.66 billion incresing the total contract sum to N13.2 billion.
