Nosa Aituamen
The Director General, Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau, NSIB, Captain Alex Bade Jr., has countered a statement by the U.S. State Department suggesting that Nigerian airports are generally unsafe.
While acknowledging that challenges such as perimeter fencing and wildlife intrusions exist at some airports, Captain Bade Jr. emphasized that these issues are not unique to Nigeria and occur globally.
He gave the clarification in responds to recent concerns over the safety of Nigerian airports, updates on its investigation into the helicopter crash that claimed the life of Herbert Wigwe, and outlined its expanded mandate to cover all modes of transportation.
Providing insights into a recent incident in Asaba, where an aircraft encountered animals on the runway, Captain Bade Jr., the aircraft suffered no damage and continued its journey, and the incident was not reported to the NSIB as it did not meet the threshold for investigation.
Regarding the investigation into the accident that claimed the life of Herbert Wigwe, Captain Bade Jr. clarified that the NSIB was an interested party and was kept informed by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which led the investigation.
In a statement by the Director, Public Affairs and Family Assistance, Mrs Bimbo Oladeji, the NTSB report cited spatial disorientation as the probable cause of the accident, as well as deficiencies in the company’s oversight and safety management processes.
In a related development, Captain Bade Jr. announced that the NSIB is expanding its mandate to cover all modes of transportation, including air, rail, road, and maritime, in line with its establishment act of 2022.
He said, the agency is currently developing frameworks, including maritime investigation regulations, training manuals, and investigation procedure policies.
The NSIB has reaffirmed its commitment to promoting transport safety and conducting objective, comprehensive, and accurate investigations into transport accidents and incidents in Nigeria.
With its expanded mandate, the DG NSIB, says, the agency is poised to play a more critical role in ensuring the safety of Nigeria’s transportation sector.