In the wake of the unfortunate Sikorsky SK76 helicopter crash near Bonny Finima in Port Harcourt, the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) is urging the Nigerian government to strengthen the nation’s emergency response and rescue infrastructure.
The crash, which claimed the lives of eight individuals, including NAAPE’s Vice President for the helicopter wing, Captain Yakubu Dukas, has sparked a call for reforms aimed at improving aviation safety.
During a symposium in Abuja themed “The Imperative of Unionization in a Struggling Economy,” NAAPE’s National President, Engr. Abednego Galadima, stressed the need for more robust emergency protocols, asserting that infrastructure for rapid response during incidents like this is crucial. “Without preempting the investigation that is ongoing, we want to urge the government to ensure that infrastructure for emergency rescue and response is top-notch,” Galadima stated. “From what we have gathered, it wasn’t optimal.”
This call for action follows confirmation by the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) that all eight individuals on board the helicopter, which was en route from Port Harcourt Military Base to the NUIMANTAN oil rig, tragically lost their lives.
Galadima expressed NAAPE’s commitment to seeing a thorough investigation and stressed the importance of learning from every detail of this accident to prevent future tragedies. “We urge the government to leave no stone unturned in investigating both the remote and immediate causes of this accident,” he said, advocating for full transparency.
Beyond infrastructure upgrades, NAAPE also appealed to the government for representation in accident investigation panels, a standard practice in various other countries. “We believe that NAAPE should have a representative on the investigation panel, so we can participate in the process from start to finish,” Galadima added.
With these recommendations, NAAPE hopes to foster a safer aviation industry in Nigeria, underscoring that every improvement could be crucial in future rescue efforts and safety initiatives.
