Nigerian Senate moves to end aircraft holding patterns for VIP movements

The Nigerian Senate has directed its Committee on Aviation to hold an urgent meeting with aviation authorities to address the practice of keeping commercial aircraft in prolonged airborne holding patterns to accommodate Very Important Person (VIP) movements and security operations.

Senator Isah Jibrin sponsored the motion, highlighting that commercial flights have reportedly been forced to remain in holding patterns for over an hour, leading to increased fuel consumption and depleted reserves. The motion noted that these delays pose significant safety risks, including exposure to adverse weather, air traffic congestion, and crew duty-time constraints. In some instances, international flights have been forced to divert to alternative domestic airports to avoid these risks.

The Senate has mandated the committee to engage the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), and the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB). The goal is to examine the situation and recommend preventive measures, such as managing restrictions through ground delays or revised departure slots rather than keeping aircraft airborne.