You lied over weather, NAMA tells INEC chairman
- Airports operated 24 hours on Feb.15 to distribute INEC materials-Agency
The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has said that it ensured a 24-hour operation at all Nigerian airports on Feb. 15 to facilitate the transportation of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC ) materials nationwide.
This has put a lie to statement by the chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu that weather prevented the airlift of sensitive electoral materials to all the states of the federation among other logistical challenges.
The commission announced the shocking decision just hours before the opening of polls after repeatedly assuring Nigerians and international observers it was ready for the crucial elections. It blamed logistics problems but did not give details at first.
Many Nigerians condemned the postponement, especially its timing, and have accused the commission of insensitivity, noting that INEC had not apologised for the inconvenience its decision had caused millions of people.
He listed the key challenges to be delays in delivering ballot papers and result sheets, occasioned in part by flight challenges due to bad weather.
He said apart from the logistical challenges, there were attempts to sabotage the commission’s preparations, listing fire outbreaks at INEC facilities that destroyed smart card readers and voter cars. The fire at Anambra was the most serious of all, he said.
The General Manager, Public Affairs of NAMA, Mr Khalid Emele, disclosed this in a statement he signed and made available to newsmen in Lagos.
INEC had announced the rescheduling of the Presidential and National Assembly Elections from Feb.16 to Feb. 23 due to logistics reasons.
Emele said the provision of the 24-hour navigation services was based on the directive from the Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika.
He added that there was no disruption in the provision of air traffic services on Feb. 16.
According to him, this was in keeping with the agency’s mandate of providing uninterrupted safe, effective, efficient, and economic air navigation services in the country.
“NAMA wishes to reassure all airspace users and the general public that the Nigerian airspace shall remain open for all airspace users before, during and after the rescheduled general elections.
“The agency has put in place appropriate contingency measures to ensure safe flight operations within the period, as well as possible extension of operational hours of any domestic airport where the need arises,’’ he said.
He advised airline operators, the travelling public and other service providers who were dependent on the agency’s services to carry on with their businesses as usual.
