President Bola Tinubu has charged stakeholders in the transport industry to ensure timely investigation of accidents or incidents, noting that delays in probing such not only prolong uncertainty for victims’ families but also allow preventable risks to persist.
The president, who was represented by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, called for deeper collaboration across all modes of transportation in Nigeria to achieve a seamless and safer transport ecosystem.
He noted, “We have seen how collaborative efforts with ICAO and other global bodies have reduced accident rates.”
The President said in the rail and marine sectors, joint initiatives on infrastructure maintenance and emergency response can save lives.
“I urge all of us here today to commit to breaking down barriers, share best practices, invest in joint training programmes, and leverage technology, such as Al-driven predictive analytics, for proactive safety measures.
“Equally critical is the timely investigation of occurrences. Delays in probing accidents not only prolong uncertainty for victims’ families but also allow preventable risks to persist,” the president said.
He stressed the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau’s (NSIB) mandate to commence investigations swiftly within seven days for serious incidents to ensure that that evidence is preserved, witnesses interviewed promptly, and causal factors identified without undue hindrance.
“National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), timely investigations enable rapid dissemination of preliminary findings, allowing operators to implement interim safeguards. In marine safety, for example, the draft regulations stress the separation of investigations from judicial proceedings, focusing solely on prevention. This independence fosters trust and encourages reporting without fear of reprisal,” he noted.
Speaking at the event, Director General of NSIB, Capt. Alex Badeh Jnr. expressed excitement in discussing three key regulatory drafts that form the cornerstone of the Bureau’s 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, ” Badeh said.
He called for the participants’ valuable input to refine the drafts further, ensuring they are practical, enforceable, and effective in preventing future incidents.
Also, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Dr. Kayode Opeifa pledged to collaborate with the NSIB to ensure safety in railway sector.
Different speakers, who spoke at the event include former Managing Director of the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board, David Jones; former Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, Engr. Seyi Sijuwade, among others.
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