After the ADC crash - Nigerian Village Square

Nov

2006

	By *Reuben Abati* 03 November 2006

After the ADC crash
By Reuben Abati

I HAD declared on Channels Television, shortly after the Sunday October 29 plane crash involving ADC airline in Ido Village near Abuja that the safest form of transportation in Nigeria today is trekking. I added that this is the most reliable form of transportation that Nigeria's quality of infrastructure and level of development can support and sustain. I was guest analyst on the station's famous Ten O'clock news. I had hardly left the studio when I received a text message from Harrison, an old friend, reminding me that "even trekking is not safe; you could be knocked down by okada by the roadside or by a molue bus."

I didn't know whether to be amused or to interpret Harrison's riposte as a piece of cynicism. But the truth is that the air crash of Sunday, October 29, the fourth in one year, the second within a month, has thrown Nigerians fully into the grips of despair. There is a feeling of helplessness and despondency in the land. Those who lost their loved ones in the air crash and in other accidents, many of which are avoidable, did not just lose their relations, they also lost their faith in Nigeria. One of the veritable signs of a failed state is when the people, without being in a physical prison, are nevertheless imprisoned by their own circumstances, for the clear reason that the state has not been able to provide for them, facilities and opportunities that can promote their humanity. The Nigerian Constitution guarantees every citizen the right to a freedom of movement. But every waking day, every Nigerian, no matter the station, has to worry about the exercise of this God-given and legally guaranteed right.

You are sure of your existence only when you are leaving the house; your return is in the hands of God. If you are trekking, you could be knocked down by hit and run motorcyclists, or run over by a drunk cab or Molue driver; if you travel in a commuter bus within the city, you could be driven by a crazy bus boy, high on the most hallucination-inducing hard drugs, into the belly of the Lagoon or into a ditch or off a bridge and to certain death. Commuters who travel by Molue and city buses especially in Lagos have told harrowing tales about encounters with ritualists and those they call "one chance robbers".

If you travel from your city to another, armed robbers lie in wait; the roads are bad and there are equally crazy police men who could shoot at the tyres of your vehicle for failing to offer a bribe, and often they miss the tyres and hit human beings. In many parts of the country, the roads have even disappeared having been long turned into gullies and erosion sites. Travel by rail is an experience that many Nigerians still imagine would happen in their life time. The rail lines are there, but the trains are not moving. In the riverine areas, the waterways have been taken over by militant youths and pirates, and even in the areas where travel by water still takes place, boats continue to capsize everyday, because the majority depends on dug-out canoes which are entirely at the mercy of the elements. Travel by air is the most dangerous.

The volume of air travel in Nigeria is relatively low considering the country's large population and the fact that it is still essentially an elitist form of transportation. The volume of traffic that is handled in all Nigerian airports in a week is not up to the volume that is managed in a matter of hours at the Johannesburg International Airport in South Africa in one day. Africa accounts for 4 per cent of global air traffic and yet it has the highest rate of air accidents in the whole world. In the past eleven years during which period about 956 lives have been lost to plane crashes inside Nigeria, the country has accounted for the highest number of plane crashes in the continent. Not even in Somalia, Burundi and the Congo do planes crash like that. In the last five years, Africa has recorded an increased volume of Foreign Direct Investment with up to ten African countries experiencing a consistent economic growth rate of 4.5% annually. Of the FDI that flows into Africa, South Africa and Nigeria are the leading beneficiaries. The tragedy of the Nigerian experience is that the opening up of its borders and space to investment from both local and foreign sources has not been matched by the provision of infrastructure to support both an investments-driven framework and human capital.

The spate of plane crashes, and the general insecurity in the country can only serve the purpose of leaving the country in many instances at the level of potentials as a destination for investment capital, and may threaten present gains. The irony of it all is that every year, Nigerian governments allocate so much money as budgets at all levels to social and infrastructural development but there is no concrete evidence of performance because of the ogre of corruption and misgovernance that rules the land as an inexorable spirit. Where the private sector is encouraged to take the driver's seat as in the aviation sector, there are issues of corporate governance and the menace of what is generally considered the "Nigerian factor".

One striking explanation can be found in our general disregard for human lives and disdain for standards and values, made possible by the failure of leadership. When you go to London, Paris, New York and all those lovely countries where our privileged compatriots go on holidays and acquire property, you are bound to see a society that works, a city that is organised, ample space for human freedom and opportunities for human expression. The critical difference between those functional societies and ours is that the average person in the West or the East is interested in the common good; he sees what he does as a part of the whole; he knows that his welfare is dependent on that of others, and so be he a valet, a lawyer, a government official or a park attendant, he is willing and ready to play his part; and he knows also that the society does not tolerate infractions from the harmony that the state seeks.

Every violation of the order is severely punished, and so a deterrent is created against those who may be willing to park their cars in the wrong location, over-speed on the motorway or commit any crime. Here, there is no respect for human lives. Africans are supposed to be communal, whereas Western societies are supposed to be individualistic, but we are now witnessing a reversal of paradigms as societies respond to new realities. Western societies are far more communal in spirit than African societies, and here in Nigeria, our development crisis can be traced to this selfishness, if not the callousness of individuals. In the aviation industry, airline operators acquire aircraft that have been classified as scrap in other countries, they refurbish them and send them into the Nigerian airspace. The ADC plane that crashed on Sunday October 29 had been used previously by two different airlines in the United States, and set aside, before ADC picked it up. Our airlines also do not maintain their aircraft.

Nigeria used to have an aircraft maintenance hangar which serviced the whole of West Africa. I once visited that facility at the Lagos airport, it tells the story of Nigeria's tragedy; in its store you will still find tyres of DC-10, and Boeing 737 and parts of airplane which were abandoned with the liquidation of Nigeria Airways. Today, the aircraft are not maintained, the pilots are overworked, the planes are flogged like dead horses. The ADC airplane that crashed was the only one in the airline's fleet; and it was so busy running around in the sky there was hardly a free moment for any checks. The ADC operational license has been suspended. The same step was taken in 1996 when the airline killed over 100 Nigerians in Ejirin near Ikorodu, including Professor Claude Ake, a foremost political scientist. On November 6, it would be exactly ten years that the incident occurred. I think the owners of ADC who in fact only recently went to the stock market to sell shares, should close shop, and allow those who bought the company's shares to start counting their losses. What we are dealing with is a reflection of the country's failure to set standards for quality assurance.

Most of our airlines are prestige units, they are dignified one-man businesses, run by persons for whom ownership of an airline is a status symbol, but in terms of standards, their aircraft are no better than the rickety Molues on the streets of Lagos. State officials who are supposed to carry out checks and maintain standards are routinely bribed by the airline operators. This much was said publicly at the stakeholders' meeting that President Obasanjo organised on the aviation sector last year following the Bellview and Sosoliso incidents of October and December 2005. The President himself noted that what we are dealing with is "corruption and corner-cutting". But has anybody done anything about that? No. What we have had so far is the Minister of Aviation, Babalola Borishade trying so hard to hang a dead man and mouthing "Human error, human error"! as if the biggest human error is not be found in the very Ministry that he heads!

But the problem is not only in the Aviation sector. It is the way we are. Nigeria is a country of sub-standard products and services where it is the fashion to cut corners at the expense of human lives. It is probably the most notorious market in the world where service providers tell you to choose between a fake product and a genuine one and encourage you to make a choice depending on the size of your pocket. And they do so openly. Fake drugs are sold openly, fake spare parts are available, even fake clothing materials...Nigeria is a dumping ground for all sorts of sub-standards goods, and in terms of service delivery, the permissiveness of the environment has encouraged persons and institutions to perform below the minimum creating a hegemony of mediocrity, even in the universities (!), and on the long run this subverts human dignity. Thus, somewhere in it all is the collapse of values and institutions.

Every plane crash in the last few years has nonetheless provided us opportunities for learning some lessons about life and nature. In the ADC plane crash as in others before it, there were persons who had travelled in that same plane only a few minutes earlier, only to be told that the ADC plane had crashed as it took off for another destination, while they, the disembarked passengers, while still looking for taxi out of the airport. There are persons who missed the flight because something else stood in their way. And when the plane crashed, some persons walked away from it, totally unhurt. They survived. Three daughters of one man involved in the same accident have also lived to tell the story. Other families lost everything. Pregnant women were involved. And the Sultan of Sokoto and his entourage were on the same flight, with two deputy Governors, two Senators and other prominent Nigerians. Investigations are being carried out, but in it all is that other factor which no man can explain: the X-factor: the impression that there is a mysterious force at work, the immensity and complexity of the cosmos, chtonic forces, the immutability of the ways and laws of Nature, and the majesty of God, the source of all unity.

However, let the authorities do their duty. The aviation sector is in need of a comprehensive audit. There should be a Soludonisation of the industry in the form of recapitalisation, consolidation, mergers and acquisition, and an insistence of the growth of a safety culture. One-plane airlines for example, and those with rickety aircraft in which things fly about as the plane runs into a cloud, the air-conditioning no longer works and fire occasionally spews forth at take-off, should be told to close shop and advised to consider the luxurious bus business. For passengers, the old rule applies: "buyer beware!" And may the good Lord be with you, as you travel in Nigerian skies, knowing that the pilot cannot be told to park the plane and let you disembark, knowing that air travel in Nigeria is a leap of faith and the beginning of a conversation with God.

Your Comments

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Robot

# 1 | 03.11.2006 00:43

	After the ADC crash ...Read the full article.

Abraxas Abraxas is offline

# 2 | 03.11.2006 01:45

	Hi, Dr. Reuben ABATI ....And may the good Lord be with you, as you travel in Nigerian skies, knowing that the pilot cannot be told to park the plane and let you disembark, knowing that air travel in Nigeria is a leap of faith and the beginning of a conversation with God.</quote> Well spoken. Mchas gracias. Do Juan Carlos ABRAXAS (III)

Abraxas Abraxas is offline

# 3 | 03.11.2006 01:47

	Hi, Dr. Reuben ABATI ....And may the good Lord be with you, as you travel in Nigerian skies, knowing that the pilot cannot be told to park the plane and let you disembark, knowing that air travel in Nigeria is a leap of faith and the beginning of a conversation with God. Well spoken. Mchas gracias. Do Juan Carlos ABRAXAS (III)

WaleAkin WaleAkin is offline

# 4 | 03.11.2006 02:53

	"No mode of transportation is safe in Nigeria", hmnnnn, thats the bitter truth, no even trekking as posited by Abati as you could be knocked down by an Okada rider.. What a country!! The shout of garage touts asking commuters to board inter city vehicles rents the air daily at major bus stations as the stench of Ogogoro fills the air and the same driver who just had some shots of this local liquor will be the same person to drive us all on a 4 hour journey. The state ban on Okada has been replaced by the tricycles popularly called *KEKE MARWA,* whats the difference between the two?, The tricycle is even more dangerous as the drivers tend to drive it as if they are driving normal cars!!! My old man was taking his usual evening stroll about a year ago and an okada knocked him down from behind...................he nearly lost his life...............I think Abati is very correct!!!! Cheers, WaleAkin

denker denker is offline

# 5 | 03.11.2006 03:31

	...what we need most presently in nigeria are other means of safety transportation with lesser jeopardy to environment and body thusly according adequately corresponding cognizance to our present level of scientifical and technological advancement and state of mind: *we need horses, donkeys and a step further can be bicycles...!* mr. abati, thank you for the partial validation of the above statement of my humble self....cheers!

Ani

# 6 | 03.11.2006 06:52

	The ADC airplane that crashed was the only one in the airline's fleet; and it was so busy running around in the sky there was hardly a free moment for any checks Please someone should tell me that Dr.Abati is kidding. ONE aircraft only???!!!! Also, someone should kindly tell me how many chachangi and sosoliso have.

Alley

# 7 | 03.11.2006 07:31

	The critical difference between those functional societies and ours is that the average person in the West or the East is interested in the common good; he sees what he does as a part of the whole; he knows that his welfare is dependent on that of others, and so be he a valet, a lawyer, a government official or a park attendant, he is willing and ready to play his part; and he knows also that the society does not tolerate infractions from the harmony that the state seeks Villagers we have a clarion call from Abati: what we all do and say is part of the whole. I think it calls for reflection. How do we run our little offices, positions, families etc? Are we playing our part to create harmony? When i see the way we display ego i wonder whether most people know that their welfare is dependent on that of others. A boss or oga madam in most offices and homes never speak kindly and lovely words but abusive language. Not even a mere 'please'. This attitude for instance contribute to crashes be it plane, motor, sideway crash. Come to think of it, a driver who had just received tongue lashing or oriki idile from a boss (chief, madam, young manager etc) pick up the key to drive while still thinking of the abuses he just received. In his traumatised state he goes on to knock someone down or cause fatal accident with tens of live chatting with God. What about the bus driver (let assume he is non-ogogoro driver) but had just received a rain of abuse from baba olowo or new graduate who was lucky enough to get a good job to afford a Tokunbo car. Our bus driver friend who is traumatised and while still bewailing his experience oosshhh drives his passengers to the lagoon. The above scenarios are happening daily in our soceity in different form and I have always say it is our failure to appreciate others that is causing us great losses. I believe we all need look inward and change the negative ways we relate to others. Tongue is said to kindle great fire. I presume so also is diposition, jokes. May God help us.

Sincere Brillow Sincere Brillow is offline

# 8 | 03.11.2006 14:00

	Nothing can be more closer to the truth. May God help us. Yours sincerely.

Picasso Picasso is offline

# 9 | 03.11.2006 17:03

	Another brilliant piece from the literary maestro himself. Very well written, bruv. Well done! Unfortunately, Obasanjo is like a deaf man shrouded by blind special assistants and cheer leaders. Offering practical solutions to a man like that is akin to pissing against the wind. The fact that he hurriedly traded a total numpty for a sycophantic clod to head the troubled aviation ministry just shows how daft this president is. In fact, one can almost surmise that he wasn't even ready to revamp the aviation sector at all (afterall, he has his own private jet); and that he was probably pressured to make such knee-jerk decision because of the 'high profile' passenger(s) on the ill-fated plane. A nation of 150 million people (based on questionable census figures), blessed with abundant natural and human resources, billion of bbls of over-pressured hydrocarbon reserves, arable lands, beautiful weather, and shielded from virtually every natural disasters known to man (hurricane, earth quakes, volcanic eruptions, sub-zero temperatures, tsunamis, mud slides, you name it) cannot guarantee something as basic as a reliable means of transportation for her citizens. What a crying shame!

Auspicious Auspicious is offline

# 10 | 03.11.2006 17:08

	=Onos;137230>A nation of 150 million people (based on questionable census figures), blessed with abundant natural and human resources, billion of bbls of over-pressured hydrocarbon reserves, arable lands, beautiful weather, and shielded from virtually every natural disasters known to man (hurricane, earth quakes, volcanic eruptions, sub-zero temperatures, tsunamis, mud slides, you name it) cannot guarantee something as basic a reliable means of transportation for her citizens. What a crying shame! Hmm..Onos, I feel you on that one. You forget to include that we have no real external aggressors or wars. Crying shame indeed! Auspicious.

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