April 25, (THEWILL) – A shocking audit report has come to light, exposing how Dana Airline has been allowed to operate in a precarious financial state and with flagrant safety violations, all while the supposed aviation regulators turned a blind eye. This damning report, coupled with the recent runway excursion involving a Dana Air flight, paints a grim picture of an airline cutting corners and regulatory bodies failing to uphold their sworn duty to protect the lives of Nigerian citizens.
The audit, conducted in 2022, found a litany of issues with Dana Airline’s finances and operations. From an inability to meet current obligations without resorting to more debt, to negative shareholder equity since 2018, to staff being paid late or forced on unpaid leave – the report indicates an airline teetering on the brink of collapse. Shockingly, the audit also uncovered numerous safety breaches, including flights operated without properly licensed pilots, expired personnel certifications, and violations of crew rest regulations.
This report, now in the hands of whistleblowers and obtained by THEWILL, lays bare how the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has failed in its most fundamental duty to ensure the safety of air travellers. Despite being made aware of Dana’s dire straits and blatant disregard for regulations, the NCAA allowed the airline to continue flying, subjecting innocent Nigerians to unacceptable risks. This disturbing revelation comes a decade after the 2012 Dana Air Flight 0992 crash that claimed over 159 lives, a tragedy that should have served as a wake-up call for stringent oversight.
The recent near-miss involving a Dana Air plane skidding off the runway is a stark reminder that the stakes are life and death.
THEWILL reports that aviation experts insist that it is incumbent upon the Ministry of Aviation and the NCAA leadership to take immediate and decisive action.
“A thorough safety and financial audit must be conducted, and if Dana is found wanting, not only should its operations be suspended until full compliance is achieved but penalty must be handed to those culpable.
“The days of collusion and willful negligence that prioritise profits over people’s lives must end. Nigerian citizens deserve better – they deserve to fly with the utmost confidence in their safety,” a whistleblower in the aviation industry who asked not to be identified said.
Below is a copy of the audit report by the NCAA.
Suspension of DANA Airline.pdfAbout the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
