Speaking through the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, at a multimodal transportation stakeholders’ workshop held in Abuja on Tuesday, the President said delays in probing incidents deepen uncertainty for victims’ families and allow preventable risks to persist. He noted that the NSIB is mandated to commence investigations within seven days of any serious incident and must focus on preserving evidence, interviewing witnesses, and identifying causes without bureaucratic delays.
Tinubu urged the bureau to adopt international best practices, particularly those of the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which emphasises timely preliminary findings and quick implementation of interim safety measures. “History teaches us that ignored lessons lead to repeated tragedies,” the President warned, stressing that all investigations must result in actionable recommendations that strengthen safety.
Reinforcing the President’s message, Minister Keyamo called for greater cooperation among stakeholders to integrate NSIB’s safety recommendations into national policies, ensure resource allocation, and enforce compliance. He proposed the creation of inter-ministerial task forces to monitor and implement these recommendations across all sectors.
Keyamo revealed that the aviation industry had already embraced several NSIB recommendations; such as those focused on fatigue management and runway safety which have yielded visible improvements. He encouraged the railway and maritime sectors to follow suit by adopting similar reforms and safety measures.
He further reiterated the government’s commitment to supporting the NSIB through increased funding, capacity building, and policy alignment. “Together, we can build robust air traffic controls, safer railways with advanced signals, secure marine routes with modern navigation aids, and integrated emergency protocols,” Keyamo said.
Earlier, NSIB Director General, Captain Alex Badeh Jnr, stated that the aim of the workshop was to promote open dialogue, share insights, and strengthen the national safety framework across aviation, maritime, and railway systems. He emphasised that in an age of interconnected transport systems, collaboration among stakeholders is not optional but necessary.
Captain Badeh also disclosed that three draft safety regulations were under review during the workshop: the Railway Accident Investigation Regulations, the Maritime Safety Investigation Regulations, and a revised version of the Civil Aviation Accident Investigation Regulations. These drafts are intended to align Nigeria’s safety protocols with global standards while addressing local realities and challenges across the transportation sector.
