President of the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies, Yinka Folami, has raised concerns about recent near-crash incidents in the country’s aviation industry.
He called on stakeholders, especially the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and airline operators, to work together in addressing safety issues to protect the traveling public.
In a recent statement, Folarin emphasized the need to prioritize the safety of the entire aviation ecosystem to ensure the well-being of passengers.
This comes after the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority announced the suspension of Max Air on January 28, 2025, following a serious incident involving one of its aircraft at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, just a day earlier.
The regulatory body also quickly launched an organizational risk audit for all airlines operating in Nigeria, including Max Air, to evaluate and address safety concerns throughout the industry.
The incident, which resulted in damage to the aircraft’s nose wheel and a tyre burst, marked the airline’s third safety-related event within three months.
In response, NANTA has called for a united effort from all stakeholders to restore public confidence in air travel.
Folami said, “We are concerned about the tail signs of near misses and operational discomforts ongoing in the Nigerian air space, and as much as we commend ongoing investigations to unravel the challenges in the system, we urge all service providers and government agencies to proactively enhance their emergency response systems to ensure the safety and unimpeded journeys of the Nigerian traveling public.
“Some of our customers have called us to express their anxieties and worries, and as major stakeholders in the aviation downstream sector, we cannot pretend that we are not concerned.”
