NSIB’s New Regulations Target Safety In Rail, Maritime, Air Transportation

Stakeholders across all modes of transportation gathered in Abuja on Thursday to discuss the newly introduced Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau’s (NSIB) three draft regulations focusing on safety in railway, maritime, air and road transportation.

The move is aimed at harmonising safety standards and enhancing collaborative investigation protocols across all modes of transportation.

Speaking on the new regulations, the Director General of the NSIB, Captain Alex Badeh Jr. said the first of the drafts – Railway (Investigation of Accidents and Incidents) Regulations, proposes a structured methodology for probing rail accidents and near-misses.

“This framework will ensure that rail accidents are treated with the urgency and depth they deserve, with the ultimate goal of preventing reoccurrence,” Captain Badeh Jr. added.

The second draft, Maritime Safety Investigation Regulations seeks to enhance transparency, accountability, and modernisation in the handling of maritime incidents.

It is designed to bring greater transparency, accountability, and modernised procedures to the investigation of accidents in Nigeria’s inland and coastal waterways and port operations.

According to Badeh, “Beyond improving outcomes, this regulation is expected to foster trust and compliance in our maritime ecosystem.”

The third regulation, a revised version of the Civil Aviation (Investigation of Air Accidents and Incidents) Regulations, integrates emerging technologies, global lessons, and stakeholder feedback; as it aligns Nigeria’s aviation investigation procedures with international standards while enhancing readiness and responsiveness in air transport.

“By modernising this framework, we are better prepared to respond to aviation incidents and strengthen public confidence in the sector,” the NSIB DG added.

Captain Badeh further explained that the drafts were the result of months of dedicated work, informed by accident data and global standards.

He described the drafts as foundational instruments for creating a unified, intermodal transport safety framework in Nigeria and explained that the drafts were developed after months of rigorous work, informed by accident data, international best practices, and extensive stakeholder consultations.

Badeh Jr. emphasised that the success of these regulations’ hinges on collective ownership. He invited stakeholders to critically review and contribute to the drafts, with the assurance that all constructive input would be incorporated before final adoption.

He further urged transportation agencies and stakeholders to break down institutional silos, share data, collaborate on training, and embrace innovation, especially AI-powered predictive tools, to build resilient and future-ready safety systems.

While speaking at the event, the Managing Director of Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Dr Kayode Opeifa said the gathering reflects a shared commitment to a cause that affects everyone.

This, the identified as safety, efficiency, and sustainability of our transport systems. “In an increasingly interconnected world, the movement of people and goods across multiple transport modes is not only essential for economic growth but also for social development and regional integration. However, with this complexity comes the need for robust safety measures and strong institutional cooperation.”

He added that Transport safety is not the sole responsibility of any one sector or agency but a collective endeavour, “one that requires trust, dialogue, and coordinated action among policymakers, regulators, transport operators, civil society, and the private sector.

“Each of us brings unique perspectives and capacities, and only through collaboration can we build resilient systems that protect lives and promote progress.”

He commended the NSIB for convening the forum and for fostering the spirit of partnership that will be vital in shaping safer transport networks.

Also contributing to the discourse, former Managing Director of the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board, Dannis Jones advocated safety investigation bodies to establish formal mental health protocols for investigators exposed to traumatic crash sites.

According to Jones, several first-time investigators at the NTSB abandoned their roles after a single deployment due to the psychological strain of encountering fatal crash scenes.

For his part, former Managing Director of Nigerian Railway Corporation, Engr. Seyi Sijuwade criticised the ongoing practice of internal investigations into rail accidents, warning that it compromises safety and fosters falsified reporting.

Drawing on his experience in rail operations, Sijuwade called attention to recurring conflicts of interest, and observed that incidents are often investigated by staff directly involved in the operations, which distorts findings and shields senior officers from scrutiny.

Also, the Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Bola Oyebamiji, highlighted the economic and cultural relevance of Nigeria’s waterways.

He disclosed that NIWA recorded 6.82 million passengers and 3.6 million metric tons of cargo across inland waterways in the first half of 2025 alone.