The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has addressed recent concerns about the safety of the country’s airports. It also clarified its role in investigating the helicopter crash involving the late co-founder of Access Bank, Herbert Wigwe.
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In response to a statement from the U.S. State Department implying that Nigerian airports are generally unsafe, the Director General of the NSIB, Captain Alex Badeh, stated during an interview on Arise TV, that while there is always room for improvement, the Bureau NSIB does not agree with such an assessment. He said it is essential to consider the context and metrics used in such evaluations.
The DG however said that though challenges, such as perimeter fencing and occasional wildlife intrusion exist at some airports, these issues are not peculiar to Nigeria, as they occur at airports worldwide, including those in the United States.
“It is unfair to generalise that our airports are entirely unsafe. We recognise the need for continuous improvement and commend the efforts of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) in implementing upgrades,” Badeh said.
He also corrected the claim that the NSIB worked “side-by-side” with the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) on the investigation into the crash involving Wigwe. He said: “We were an interested party and were kept informed of the process by the NTSB, which led the investigation in the U.S.”
The NTSB report indicated that the probable cause of the accident was spatial disorientation and Badeh noted that the report also highlighted deficiencies in the company’s oversight and safety management processes. “It seems there were systemic issues, and the flight risk assessment should have indicated a higher risk. While it’s easy to blame the pilot, there is a system behind the pilot that should have mitigated these risks,” he said.
A statement from the Director of Public Affairs and Family Assistance, Mrs. Bimbo Olawumi Oladeji, said that Badeh also provided an update on the NSIB’s expanded mandate. “In line with our establishment act of 2022, we are now the sole accident investigation agency in Nigeria, covering air, rail, road, and maritime sectors. We are developing the necessary frameworks, including maritime investigation regulations, training manuals, investigation procedure policies, and manuals. The maritime and rail frameworks are complete, and we are engaging stakeholders for their buy-in,” he stated.
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