The Accident and Investigation Bureau (AIB) has said 2,038 persons died from air crashes in the country in 1969 and 2022.

This is according to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the AIB, Akin Olateru. He made the remark in Abuja on Sunday during an occasion to mark the International Day for Commemorating Air Crash and Victims and their Families.

“In Nigeria, from the year 1969 to 2022, a total of 2,038 (1996 on board passengers and 42 on ground) lives have been lost to air crashes,” Olateru said during the event.

“When an aircraft accident or serious incident occurs, it is always an unexpected and mostly fatal event that causes great distress and loss to the victims and their families.”

The AIB boss said the International Civil Aviation Organisation is putting up modalities to support families of victims of air crashes. He said the assistance includes providing service to address their concerns.

“The ICAO policies and guidelines ensure that the needs of the victims and their families are addressed in a timely manner,” he stated.

He “therefore, would like to use this opportunity to recommend that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority put in place effective policies and regulations that will mandate airline operators in the country to have Family Assistance Plans as part of their emergency plan or procedure.

“The NCAA should also ensure that such assistance programmes are supervised, exercised and audited appropriately.”

The event comes on the heels of recent complaints about the frequency of delayed flights in the country. But the situation is being tackled squarely, the Director-General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Captain Musa Nuhu, assured.

He explained that a committee has been set up to look into the incessant delays in flights.

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