A non- governmental organization,(NGO) African Foundation for peace and Love Initiatives (AFPLI) has partnered with Nigeria Airport Management Authority , Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA)
and Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) with others to hold the 10th edition of the annual National prayer for the safety of Nigeria Airspace.
The prayer was said by theAfrican Children of Peace Club, comprising of pupils from different primary and secondary schools in Lagos who advocate peace at the grassroots after converging at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, to offer prayers for air safety in Nigeria.
Led by the Founding President of African Foundation for Peace and Love Initiative (AFPLI) Dr Titus Oyeyemi,the air safety prayer started 10 years ago after the Sosoliso air crash, which involved pupils of the Loyola Jesuit, adding that it is their belief that when children pray unto God, their prayers are answered.
“This year’s safety prayer is significant to us because it proves that God is interested in this programme, ever since we started except for the Dana air crash, the country has not witnessed any major disaster in the aviation industry”, he said.
He said the significance of the prayer cannot be overemphasized because, it involves children who are considered innocent to cry to God for safety of the nation adding that at the beginning of the programme some well meaning Nigerians such as the then minister of Aviation, Mr. Fani Kayode was present at the prayer.
Oyeyemi said the organization is still looking forward to have more government representatives believing in the prayer stressing that it will go a long way to save the aviation industry from further danger, saying, his desire for the industry is success in all ramifications.
An official of the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency, Otubusen Olufunso said the impact of the prayer programme has been wonderful, because it has helped to prevent airline crashes which is the major objective.
He said aviation is a global business; adding that the present administration is concerned about Nigeria keeping up with the global practices in aviation with the intervention renovating and upgrading Abuja runway, Lagos, as well as putting up terminals and airports in Sokoto.
He said NAMA has been keeping up in terms of maintenance of equipments which is capital intensive saying all over the world there is no aviation industry that does not have its own shortcomings and that is why government’s intervention is very critical in ensuring safety of lives.
Esther Taiwo
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