Abandoned airplanes in a Nigerian airport
By passenger traffic or flight movements, Nigeria ranks nowhere near the world’s top aviation countries. But the country has an odd record in the number of unserviceable and dead airplanes competing for space with serviceable ones at airports nationwide. WOLE OYEBADE examines why the mortality rate for airplanes is high without consideration for revenue-earning secondary value. However, stakeholders are unanimous that a complement of realistic business models, better efficiency in maintenance culture, after-service storage programmes, and development of aviation-based tourism and hospitality outlets could change the narrative.
Descending the final approach into Runway-18 Right of Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, the “Lady Bird” could hardly be missed. On the ground, she is as big as a house with imposing elegance that beautifies skylines. But there she has been in the last four years, idle and with love unrequite