2006年VOA标准英语-Nigeria Urged to Radically Fix Air Industry

By Gilbert da Costa
Abuja
31 October 2006

Sunday's plane crash in Nigeria has again stirred a debate on air safety in the West African country. The government is under pressure carry out radical¹ reforms of the sector².

The latest crash brings the death toll³ from the three air disasters in the last three years in Nigeria to more than 300. 

wreckage4 of the ADC airliner5 is seen after crashing in Abuja, October 29, 2006" src="/upimg/allimg/070507/1452090.jpg" width="210" border="0" /> The wreckage of the ADC airliner is seen after crashing in Abuja, October 29, 2006

Human error and bad weather were blamed for last December's crash of a DC-9 plane operated by Sosoliso Airlines. Some 107 people died in that accident.

Nigerian aviation officials are accusing the pilot of the ADC jet that went down, Sunday, of disobeying instructions to abort⁶ take off due to bad weather. However, most Nigerians reckon the local air industry is notoriously unsafe and needs a radical reform.

Nigerian Vice⁷ President Atiku Abubakar says increasing aircraft checks could be a starting point for a robust⁸ reform of the troubled industry.

"There is a need for us to go further than what we have already done," he said. "Even if it comes to a daily check on aircraft departing from all our major airports on a daily basis, we need to do that to ensure better safety and also safety of lives of our passengers."

The government had promised radical reforms following a spate⁹ of crashes last year. Reuben Abati, a newspaper editor and commentator¹⁰ on national issues, says the government's inability to address serious shortcomings, is responsible for the continued crisis in the aviation industry.

"You will recall that last year, after the Bellview and Sosoliso crash, the presidency¹¹ was so concerned that a summit was organized. And one of the major revelations of that exercise was the airlines were cutting corners, a lot of things being done that are untidy," he said. "And then also the president set up a committee which came up with over 100 recommendations, as to how the aviation sector can be upgraded. But you'll find out that not much progress has been made."

Officials say representatives of aircraft manufacturer Boeing Co. and engine maker¹² Pratt & Whitney are expected in Nigeria, Tuesday, to help with the investigation¹³.

The International Civil Aviation Organization is scheduled to conduct an audit¹⁴ of Nigerian airports, next week.

1 radical   

n.激进份子，原子团，根号；adj.根本的，激进的，彻底的

参考例句：

• The patient got a radical cure in the hospital.病人在医院得到了根治。
• She is radical in her demands.她的要求十分偏激。

2 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

3 toll   

n.过路(桥)费；损失，伤亡人数；v.敲(钟)

参考例句：

• The hailstone took a heavy toll of the crops in our village last night.昨晚那场冰雹损坏了我们村的庄稼。
• The war took a heavy toll of human life.这次战争夺去了许多人的生命。

4 wreckage   

n.（失事飞机等的）残骸，破坏，毁坏

参考例句：

• They hauled him clear of the wreckage.他们把他从形骸中拖出来。
• New states were born out of the wreckage of old colonial empires.新生国家从老殖民帝国的废墟中诞生。

5 airliner   

n.客机，班机

参考例句：

• The pilot landed the airliner safely.驾驶员使客机安全着陆。
• The passengers were shepherded across the tarmac to the airliner.旅客们被引导走过跑道去上飞机。

6 abort   

v.使流产，堕胎；中止；中止(工作、计划等)

参考例句：

• The captain instructed them to abort the mission.上尉指示他们中止执行任务。
• With this button the user can abort the audio sequence.用户可以用该按钮终止音频序列。

7 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

8 robust   

adj.强壮的，强健的，粗野的，需要体力的，浓的

参考例句：

• She is too tall and robust.她个子太高，身体太壮。
• China wants to keep growth robust to reduce poverty and avoid job losses,AP commented.美联社评论道，中国希望保持经济强势增长，以减少贫困和失业状况。

9 spate   

n.泛滥，洪水，突然的一阵

参考例句：

• Police are investigating a spate of burglaries in the area.警察正在调查这一地区发生的大量盗窃案。
• Refugees crossed the border in full spate.难民大量地越过了边境。

10 commentator   

n.注释者，解说者；实况广播评论员

参考例句：

• He is a good commentator because he can get across the game.他能简单地解说这场比赛，是个好的解说者。
• The commentator made a big mistake during the live broadcast.在直播节目中评论员犯了个大错误。

11 presidency   

n.总统(校长，总经理)的职位(任期)

参考例句：

• Roosevelt was elected four times to the presidency of the United States.罗斯福连续当选四届美国总统。
• Two candidates are emerging as contestants for the presidency.两位候选人最终成为总统职位竞争者。

12 maker   

n.制造者，制造商

参考例句：

• He is a trouble maker，You must be distant with him.他是个捣蛋鬼，你不要跟他在一起。
• A cabinet maker must be a master craftsman.家具木工必须是技艺高超的手艺人。

13 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

14 audit   

v.审计；查帐；核对；旁听

参考例句：

• Each year they audit our accounts and certify them as being true and fair.他们每年对我们进行账务审核，以确保其真实无误。
• As usual,the yearly audit will take place in December.跟往常一样，年度审计将在十二月份进行。