President Bola Tinubu has called on the Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) to prioritise swift investigations into transportation accidents and ensure timely release of reports to boost safety and prevent future incidents.
Speaking through the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, at a multimodal transportation stakeholders’ workshop organised by NSIB in Abuja, the President stressed that delays in investigations heighten the suffering of victims’ families and allow avoidable dangers to persist.
“The NSIB must begin investigations within seven days of any serious incident, focusing on preserving evidence, quickly interviewing witnesses, and identifying root causes without delay,” Tinubu stated. He urged the bureau to emulate global best practices, particularly the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which is known for conducting timely investigations and releasing preliminary findings to enable swift safety interventions.
“History teaches us that ignored lessons lead to repeated tragedies,” he added, noting that accident probes must produce actionable recommendations that translate into meaningful safety reforms.
The call comes amid concerns raised by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which recently highlighted that Africa’s air safety performance still lags behind global standards. IATA urged African governments to treat aviation as a driver of economic growth by addressing safety gaps, reducing operational costs, and resolving the issue of blocked airline funds.
Reinforcing the President’s message, Keyamo encouraged stakeholders to integrate NSIB’s recommendations into national transport policies, allocate resources, and monitor implementation effectively. “Let us establish inter-ministerial task forces to track and enforce these recommendations, ensuring accountability at every level,” he said.
He noted that the aviation sector had already seen improvements through the adoption of NSIB recommendations on fatigue management and runway safety, and urged the maritime and rail sectors to do the same.
Earlier, NSIB Director General, Captain Alex Badeh Jnr, said the workshop was aimed at deepening collaboration across aviation, maritime, and railway sectors. “In an era where transportation systems are increasingly interconnected, collaboration is not just beneficial—it is essential,” he said.
