Plane crashes, their pangs and our infallibility

By Wale Oni

Good people, I am heartbroken. Another plane has crashed killing about thirty people, maybe all are Nigerians.

Immediately after the news broke yesterday, Monday the 5th of October 2026, that a military aircraft heading for Lagos from Benin had crashed somewhere in the coastal side of Ondo State, my heart skipped several beats as l remembered my younger sister’s son who is a flying officer and was recently transferred out of that Benin Zone. The victims could have been you or me. It could still happen to any of us in the future if situations remain the same.

This is tragedy in full definition as the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo appeared on national TV to address the nation on the crash. He cut a forlorn, saddened figure.
The dead were fathers, mothers, brothers, daughters, aunties, breadwinners of some unlucky people. In due course, some children will not get their school fees paid, may even quit schooling. Widows. Widowers. Hardships. Poverty. Abandonment.These are spectres that will emerge as fallouts of this horrible plane crash. Yeepa!

Why is it military planes that crash too regularly in Nigeria and Africa? Why are NCAA experts barred from technically supporting military aviation? Why? Poor training?Arrogance? Sleaze related? Foolishness? I think all of the above factors and more.

How and why do we fall into the same pit repeatedly? How do we put an end to this, or ensure it doesn’t happen this frequently?

How? I think it is clear now that most of our military officers, indeed Air Force officers, including the entirety of Nigerian civil servants, are inadequately trained. Our people cannot cope in many spheres of life, be it electricity, road building, water supply, communication, name it, we are inept. But some of our military officers and civil servants are billionaires. It would seem monies meant for public good are diverted into individuals pockets. We can all see the consequences.

Nigerian Air Force officers need training and retraining. We need to re-collaborate with top nations to rejig and refix our air force especially pertaining to aviation.

But l am hopeful , that technical retraining by Britain, France or some of these advanced countries would be very beneficial.

One recalls how brilliant some of these institutions performed in the immediate years after Nigeria attained independence in 1960. Nigeria excelled in shipping and maritime with a well run Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) churning out offsprings such as the Nigeria National Shipping Line which paraded about thirty Nigerian manned ocean going ships. The story is the same for Nigerian aviation. Nigeria Airways used to boast of over 50 aircraft with upright Nigerian pilots.

Unfortunately, today, where are the vessels, the aircraft, the experts? We have lost the pilots, lost that first generation of well heeled civil servants trained by the British and across the world. What we have now are pretenders all angling for personal aggrandizement at the expense of the rest of us.

Foreigners have taken over our maritime industry hook, line and sinker. Any time from now, some Chinese are going to take over Nigeria’s Murtala Mohammed International Airport and others across the country. They have been concessioned. Our leaders have subtly admitted being inferior by surrendering these commonwealth.

Unfortunately, but frankly, that’s the obvious truth, the reality. We can’t match up as a nation with so many advanced countries. We are brilliant and hardworking but selfish, greedy and overambitious.

This nation bleeds, in fact, it hemorrhages, losing billions of dollars and expertise all the way.

Luckily, we have crude oil cash in billions to cover every filth as we pretend that all is well. But what about posterity? What about our children and children’s children’s future?

Not to derail or digress from the tragedy that has befallen Nigeria with this Air Force plane crash in Ondo State waterside. More of it may still happen unless we take drastic steps. Unless we cover our heads in shame and beat a retreat.

The military planes are presently what can be described as flying coffins. Our Air Force officers need retraining by the British or the Americans. Indeed, all of us, the whole nation needs a reorientation in patriotism, moderation and conscientiousness.

Backlash. Apart from the almost unaffordable costs of air travel in Nigeria, we now live again with the fear of potential air mishaps. I see many people returning to road travel, not minding Boko Haram and kidnappers lurking around. After all, one can count on his wits or talk to his legs and head for the bush if waylaid. Planes are planes, military or civilian, no retreat. Many would reason along this line. Very unfortunate.

This aptly affirms the life expectancy data that gives Nigeria and Africa 60 years or below and Europe 80 years and above.

But l love Naija, na inside am l go live and die.

Meanwhile, hearts ache, a nation is ashamed.