President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has urged the Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) to ensure the timely investigation of occurrences and the prompt release of the report.
According to him, delays in probing accidents not only prolong uncertainty for victims’ families but also allow preventable risks to persist.
The President, speaking at a multimodal transportation stakeholders workshop organised by the NSIB on Thursday in Abuja, stated that the bureau has the mandate to commence investigations within seven days for serious incidents and ensure that evidence is preserved, witnesses are interviewed promptly, and causal factors are identified without undue hindrance.
The President, who was represented by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, emphasised the need to draw from global benchmarks, such as those from the United States National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), and timely investigations that enable rapid dissemination of preliminary findings, allowing operators to implement interim safeguards.
While mentioning that investigations alone are not sufficient, but the real value lies in the adoption of safety recommendations, he said history teaches us that ignored lessons lead to repeated tragedies.
He said, “Stakeholders must prioritise these recommendations by integrating them into policies, allocating resources for implementation, and monitoring compliance.”
He disclosed that the aviation sector has adopted NSIB’s past suggestions on fatigue management and runway safety, which have yielded tangible improvements. He called on his counterparts in the transportation and marine sectors to do the same.
He urged stakeholders to prioritise these recommendations by integrating them into policies, allocating resources for implementation, and monitoring compliance.
He said, “Let us establish inter-ministerial task forces to track and enforce these recommendations, ensuring accountability at every level.”
He emphasised that the path to zero accidents requires unwavering collaboration and teamwork. He stressed that workshops catalyse forging partnerships that transcend traditional sector boundaries.
He said, “Together, we can build resilient systems: robust air traffic controls, safer railways with advanced signals, secure marine routes with modern navigation aids, and integrated emergency protocols. Our government is committed to supporting NSIB through funding, capacity building, and policy alignment. We envision a Nigeria where every journey is safe, every family reunited, and our economy thrives on the wheels of secure transport.”
The Director General of NSIB, Captain Alex Badeh Jnr, in his remarks, noted that the primary aim was to foster open dialogue, exchange insights, and collectively refine the frameworks that safeguard lives and infrastructure in aviation, maritime, and railway sectors.
He said, “In an era where transportation systems are increasingly interconnected, collaboration is not just beneficial—it is essential. By working together, we can identify gaps, share best practices, and build resilient safety mechanisms that align with international standards while addressing our unique national challenges.”
He highlighted that three key regulatory drafts will be discussed during the workshop, including the Investigation of Accidents and Incidents Regulations Draft for the railway sector. This draft aims to establish robust procedures for investigating railway mishaps, ensuring thorough analysis and preventive recommendations to improve rail safety nationwide.
Second, the Maritime Safety Investigation Regulations Draft aims to streamline investigations into maritime accidents and incidents, fostering transparency, accountability, and enhanced safety procedures in our crucial waterways and ports. The third is the comprehensive review of the Revised Civil Aviation (Investigation of Air Accidents and Incidents) Regulations Draft, which builds on existing frameworks to incorporate emerging technologies, global lessons learned, and stakeholder feedback for even stronger aviation safety oversight.
