Runway Excursion at Port Harcourt International Airport: Urgent Need for Strengthened Aviation Safety Oversight
Working Paper
On July 13, 2025, Air Peace Flight P47190 veered off the runway at Port Harcourt International Airport upon landing. Though no casualties were recorded, the incident triggered widespread concern over aviation safety in Nigeria, particularly due to the history of similar runway excursions at the same airport and others nationwide. This latest event reveals persistent weaknesses in Nigeria’s aviation oversight, infrastructure, and emergency preparedness. While Air Peace has reaffirmed its commitment to safety, recurring incidents suggest systemic deficiencies in regulatory enforcement, runway design, maintenance, and risk management. To prevent future occurrences and reinforce public trust in domestic air travel, the National Assembly may wish to: ● Summon the NCAA, FAAN, AIB-N, and Air Peace for a formal hearing on the incident and broader safety issues affecting Nigerian airports; ● Mandate ICAO-compliant Runway Safety Teams (RSTs) at all Nigerian airports to conduct regular safety audits and proactive risk mitigation; ● Commission a nationwide runway infrastructure audit, focusing on friction surfaces, drainage systems, runway lighting, and end safety zones; ● Require public release of preliminary incident findings within 14 days and full investigative reports by AIB-N to promote transparency and accountability; ● Include a special aviation safety intervention fund in the 2026 budget to finance urgent runway reconstruction and safety upgrades at critical airports; ● Amend aviation laws to strengthen NCAA’s enforcement powers and impose stiffer penalties for negligence or non-compliance by airport managers. Through these measures, the National Assembly can play a decisive role in elevating Nigeria’s aviation safety standards, reducing incident recurrence, and aligning with global best practices under ICAO protocols.