Ethiopian Airlines Crash: Senate Mourns Death Of Nigerians

The Nigerian Senate, on Tuesday, mourned the death of its citizens in the ill-fated Boeing 737 Ethiopian Airlines aircraft that crashed on March 10 in Addis Ababa.

The plane had crashed about six minutes after departing the Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa. The flight ET 302 was en route Nairobi, Kenya when the tragic incident happened, killing all 175 passengers and crew members.

The Senate, while mourning the two Nigerians involved in the crash, charged the Federal Government to take steps aimed at making sure that all aircraft operating within the country are safe and airworthy.

The nation lost a professor of Literary Arts in Carleton University, Canada, Pius Adesanmi, and Abiodun Bashua, a former United Nations and African Union deputy Joint Special Representative, in the event.

The deceased were mourned on the floor of the upper legislative chamber following a motion moved by Senator Gbenga Ashafa (Lagos-APC).

“Both Nigerians that lost their lives in this unfortunate air disaster, are individuals that have distinguished themselves in their fields and till their deaths remained worthy ambassadors of the country in the Diaspora,” said Ashafa.

He urged the “Federal Ministry of Aviation and the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority to ensure that all aircraft: operating within Nigeria are airworthy in order to keep Nigerians safe at all times.”

 The Senate subsequently observed a minute silence for the deceased while commending the “Federal Ministry of Aviation and the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority for moving swiftly in mitigating the operations of the Boeing 737 Max 8 and 9 series aircraft within the Nigerian Airspace in order to ensure the safety of all Nigerians.”