The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Government to set aside December 10 of every year as National Air Safety Day in memory of the students of Jesuit Loyola College and other victims of the Sosoliso Air crash on same day in 2005.
The resolution was sequel to the adoption of a motion brought under matter of urgent public importance by Hon. Wale Raji (APC, Lagos) which was unanimously adopted by members through a voice vote.
The House suggested that the Memorial Day was for the students of the Loyola Jesuit College who died in the Sosoliso Air crash of December 10, 2005.
According to the lawmakers, the gesture will also serve as a memorial for other victims of air mishaps in the country.
The House also urged the Federal Government to “carry out a review of the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) report on the Sosoliso Plane Crash and other crashes that have occurred in Nigeria from 2005.”
Moving the motion, Hon. Raji said: “exactly ten years ago, sixty-one students of Loyola Jesuit College Abuja, who were on Christmas break boarded a Port Harcourt bound Sosoliso Airline flight.”
“Unfortunately, sixty of the students and many other passengers on board did not come out of the aircraft alive, the plane crashed at the Port Harcourt Airport.
“These young brilliant students of ages ranging between ten and 16 years would have by now graduated from the Universities like their peers if they had not been victims of the plane crash.
“They would have been ready to contribute their quota to our National Development efforts,” he said.
Raji noted that in spite of the investigation carried out after the crash, the country had experienced other plane crashes since 2005 in which prominent Nigerians lost their lives.
“Although progress has been made in ensuring air safety in the country lately, the state of Nigeria’s Airports infrastructural facilities described as one of the worst in the world is not only disturbing but also worrisome,” he added.
The Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, therefore referred the matter to the House Committee on Aviation for further legislative input and collaboration with the relevant MDAs to ensure compliance.
