The minister of Aviation and Space Development, Festus Keyamo, has called for deeper collaboration across all modes of transportation in Nigeria to achieve a seamless and safer transport ecosystem.
The minister made this appeal while delivering a keynote address at the Multimodal Transportation Stakeholders’ Workshop, organised by the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) in Abuja, on the theme, “Strengthening Transport Safety Standards Through Collaboration.”
The minister lauded the NSIB for convening the timely forum and emphasised the role of transportation as the “lifeblood of any nation’s economy,” connecting people, goods, and services.”
However, he warned that such connectivity comes with the grave responsibility of ensuring safety across all platforms, such as air, rail, marine, and road.
He further said, “As the minister of aviation and aerospace development, I am acutely aware of the unique challenges facing our sector-from air traffic control to aircraft maintenance and climate-related disruptions. But safety knows no boundaries. An incident on the railway can affect air cargo logistics. A marine mishap can hinder road access to ports. Our systems are interlinked. That is why a multimodal, collaborative approach is not optional-it is essential,”
Also, the director general of NSIB, Capt. Alex Badeh Jnr, while speaking at the event, said the primary objective of the gathering was to foster open dialogue, exchange insights, and collectively refine the frameworks that safeguard lives and infrastructure in the aviation, maritime, and railway sectors.
He further stated, “In an era where transportation systems are increasingly interconnected, collaboration is not just beneficial—it is essential. We can identify gaps, share best practices, and build resilient safety mechanisms that align with international standards while addressing our unique national challenges by working together.
During this workshop, we are excited to present and discuss three key regulatory drafts that form the cornerstone of our efforts:
First, the Railway (Investigation of Accidents and Incidents) Regulations Draft, which aims to establish robust procedures for probing railway mishaps, ensuring thorough analysis and preventive recommendations to enhance rail safety nationwide.
Second, the Maritime Safety Investigation Regulations Draft, designed to streamline investigations into maritime accidents and incidents, promoting transparency, accountability, and improved safety protocols in our vital waterways and ports.
“And third, a 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.
These drafts represent months of dedicated work by our teams at NSIB, informed by data, expert consultations, and real-world experiences. Today, we invite your valuable input to refine them further, ensuring they are practical, enforceable, and effective in preventing future incidents. I am confident that the discussions ahead will yield actionable outcomes, strengthening our collective resolve to prioritise safety. Let us embrace this opportunity to collaborate, innovate, and elevate standards for the benefit of all Nigerians.”
