Nigeria’s Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) Paul Botwev Orhii and some ministers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on Wednesday escaped an air disaster that would have thrown the entire nation into another round of mourning.

The DG of NAFDAC and some ministers boarded an undisclosed Lagos-bound aircraft in Abuja, when at the point of departure the pilot suddenly announced that there were some technical hitches that would prevent take-off. The officials of the undisclosed aviation company provided another aircraft which could not take off at departure time due technical problems.

The top government officials were forced to contact the embattled Minister of Aviation, Stella Odua, who then ordered that another aircraft be provided for them. However, at the point of departure, for the third time, the pilot told the already exhausted government officials that the technical snags on the third aircraft were worse than those of the previous two inoperative aircraft.

The NAFDAC DG Paul Orhii told this mind-boggling story himself on Wednesday at an interactive session between him and operators of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) at the Lagos State Chamber of Commerce ad Industry(LCCI) Conference and Exhibition Centre, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos. However, he did not disclose who the operators were, neither did he divulge the names of the ministers on board.

The DG told the story while explaining to stakeholders in commerce and industry, the reason for his late arrival at the session. The event was expected to begin at 10.30 am but BusinessDay checks showed the DG arrived at the venue few minutes before 1 pm.

‘’Please I want to start by apologising for being late. It is not in the character of NAFDAC to come late to events. What happened was that our first flight was about to take-off but the pilot suddenly announced that there was a slight problem.

‘’We boarded another aircraft. The door was closed and we were about to take-off. But the pilot also said there was a problem with the flight. I was with some ministers.

We disembarked but they said they were bringing another aircraft, but we asked them not to bother.

‘’Incidentally I called the Minister of Aviation who now asked them to provide another aircraft for us. But the door of the third aircraft was closed and our seat belts were already fastened when the pilot said the problem in that one was worse than the problems of the other two,’’ narrated Paul Orhii.

This story reinforces the worries of stakeholders and Nigerians that the country’s aviation sector needs total overhaul.

Are U saying that even after the Agagu issue,we still haven't learnt a lesson? If supposely anything happened will they also term it as 'An act of God'? Does it mean a whole country like Nigeria cannot dispose off Dilapidated airlines? God help us and the Aviation leaders

This issue is less severe than the heading painted it!

Tolexander: This issue is less severe than the heading painted it!

This is not exaggeration except you are just waking up lol

When they say Oduah is just decorating airport now somebody will come and say its ibo hatred mtcheww

Even though airports today are as beautiful as ever, does that stop plane crashes from happening, the aviation sector does need to be overhaul, standing from the top( oduah) to the bottom (i don't know what the bottom is_)

He should have named the airline.

End Time Thing

..Nigerians Should Boycott Domestic Airlines For a While and Use other options. This is Too Much!

Why do we have so many bad aircrafts now? This decay must have began a year or two before now. Our regulatory agencies prefer to use whooping sums of money in making their minister comfortable and "safe" while neglecting their real duties.. Smh.

He(DG of NAFDAC) should have disclosed the means of transportation he later used.......

.......Or did they still use the 3rd problematic aircraft without fear of plane crash? #confused#

Jst passing by....

What is wrong with Nigerians?

It is this Same gree die mentality that made those going for agagu's burial to fly 'anyways'

If it were myself, I'd thank the pilot for being honest and not Trying to fly a bad plane and putting our lives in such risk

I will be willing to wait 24hours for a better plane

The pilot knew what the procedures were and failed to fly

We should be happy our pilots are beginning to refuse acting 007.

So what's the fuss all about?

.it's just simple

She should uncertify these aircrafts from flying in our airspace

Ember months thingz also happening in the aviation industry?

Now if all the pilots around refuse to fly faulty planes


Wouldn't the airline management fix or change these planes?

Some pilots need awareness

What if the plane was to fly "ordinary" passengers? Would the pilot be as honest as this? They are all crooks that are only concerned about their welfare and not of the masses!
The sosoliso event quickly comes to mind where top politicians were supposed to use that plane but it went otherwise because of "technical hitches".
How long Nigeria??
How long

When she decide to ground a brand new one for this scraps running our airports (Rivers jet). I know what to say about this woman.

Adupe lodo olorun npe ijamba buruku o sele ni orilede Naijira

Heads need to roll at the NCAA , only the minister can't be held accountable for such rot

idupaul: Heads need to roll at the NCAA , only the minister can't be held accountable for such rot

Minister's head should roll since she is incapable of instilling sanity in her department.

Tolexander: This issue is less severe than the heading painted it!

Dnt mind dem, haters of Stella will not go unpunish. Cock n bull story.

Thank God nothing happened, this' the more reason why we are seeking for the removal of Oduah...

Tolexander: This issue is less severe than the heading painted it!

Thank you very much.Sometimes I wonder how this our so called journalists choose their headlines.

Another reason why Stella Oduah should be sacked!

Keep quite and tell those South West halvebaked and unemployable dumps Fani Kayode recruited to do their Job.

What do you think is the Aviation Minister's direct job description?

Likewise go and sack transport minister for accident caused by drunk and unqualified drivers while exonerating the Faderal Road Safety Commission.

Evil men.

GeneralJ: When they say Oduah is just decorating airport now somebody will come and say its ibo hatred mtcheww

Even though airports today are as beautiful as ever, does that stop plane crashes from happening, the aviation sector does need to be overhaul, standing from the top( oduah) to the bottom (i don't know what the bottom is_)

Ngwakwe: Keep quite and tell those South West halvebaked and unemployable dumps Fani Kayode recruited to do their Job.

What do you think is the Aviation Minister's direct job description?

Likewise go and sack transport minister for accident caused by drunk and unqualified drivers while exonerating the Faderal Road Safety Commission.

Evil men.

Is there a relationship between the transport minister/ministry and the federal road safety commission and/or drunk drivers and unqualified drivers? I suggest you read on the job description of the minister, vision and mission of the transport ministry.

.a.

Mummy Oduah should wake up from her slumber and do the needfuls in her ministry before her butt gets kicked out!

Where is the SOURCE of this rumour ? This is why Bob Manuel called Nairaland, a DISCREDITED blog. Moderators should henceforth take down threads without registered sources.

Billyonaire: Where is the SOURCE of this rumour ? This is why Bob Manuel called Nairaland, a DISCREDITED blog. Moderators should henceforth take down threads without registered sources.

Lol.. Registered Source Kor, Registered Ketchup ni!

Please let them also buy a flying Mercedes Benz that is bullet,fire,bomb,boko haram, mend and Odeshi proof too at the cost of 500mm ONLY.

Their kinsmen will also come out to defend them too for making the right decision and they will also tell us why they had to buy it because of threat of death through air mishap o that they are being witch hunted by people from poverty stricken land too.

Mr. President will also set up a 7man committee to.investigate the immediate and remote causes of buying such Mercedes Benz and recommendations will be expected within 1month, despite the fact that we have anti-corruption agencies that are being paid with the tax payers money on a monthly basis.
Mumudom for real!!!!

*sigh