Shocking revelation emerge over suspension of Air Peace flights to Makurdi, Benue State

The suspension of commercial flights to Makurdi the Benue State was greeted with sadness from many quarters because it come barely days after the long awaited flights had commenced.

To worsen the feeling already created by the suspension, rumours are being peddled as to the cause of the suspension. While some said it was unprofitable to Air piece, others attributed it to insecurity and others maintained that, the Nigerian Air Force were opposed to it due to lack of proper consultation among other reasons.

Concerned about this, I have secured some reasonable and substantially believable information from an insider whose identity will not be revealed and whose anonymity status shall be maintained.

Though speaking from an un-authoritative angle, my informant said, prior to the lockdown occasioned by the Covid19 pandemic, chartered flights were operated in and out of Makurdi with Air Force controllers manning the tower. However, Covid19 came and all Airports in Nigeria were closed.

Before the Airports were reopened for operations, NCAA, the regulator of the Nigerian air space set out precautionary guidelines/procedures outlined for the safe airspace considering the pandemic and its likely effect.

NCAA went round Airports, checked the facilities put in place by both FAAN and Airlines, of which Makurdi airport was not among, reason been that Makurdi was then not ready for commercial flights and did not even indicate interest at that time.

All of a sudden, Makurdi that was not checked and certified by NCAA appeared busy in the airspace with commercial flights, which invariably meant it did not comply with the guidelines set out and even if it did, it was not certified.

NCAA has to check and certify the facilities at the Makurdi airport which includes; Covid19 prevention readiness, fire cover, security and others considerations before commercial flights will resume.

NCAA are scheduled to be in Makurdi, Benue State on Monday 21/12/20 which is tomorrow for checks. It is our collective prayer that they find the necessary equipment/tools and services needed to grant operational license to the Makurdi Airport.

All hands must be on deck from the Benue State Government and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria who must work together to get a positive result.

Again it remains the view of my confidant that he is not in an authoritative position to make a public statement on the issue but has only volunteered information to dispel rumours and help the public comprehend better, the position of things.