Capt Badeh
The Director General of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), Captain Alex Bade Jr., has disagreed with the US State Department’s assessment that Nigerian airports are generally unsafe.
According to Captain Bade Jr., while there is always room for improvement, the NSIB does not concur with this assessment, citing the need to consider the context and metrics used in such evaluations.
Captain Bade Jr. acknowledged that challenges such as perimeter fencing and instances of wildlife intrusion exist at some airports, but emphasized that these are not unique to Nigeria and occur at airports globally, including in the United States.
“It’s unfair to generalize that our airports are totally unsafe,” he said, adding that the NSIB recognizes the need for continuous improvement and commends the efforts of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) in implementing upgrades.
The NSIB DG also provided an update on the recent incident in Asaba, where an aircraft encountered animals on the runway.
He clarified that the aircraft was fine and continued its journey to Abuja without any damage, and that the incident was reported to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
Captain Bade Jr. noted that such occurrences are rare in Nigeria and that the NSIB plans to reach out to the private entity managing the airport to discuss best practices.
On the investigation into the accident involving the late Herbert Wigwe, Captain Bade Jr. corrected the assertion that the NSIB worked “side-by-side” with the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
He clarified that the NSIB was an interested party and was kept abreast of the process by the NTSB, who led the investigation in the US.
The NTSB report indicated that the probable cause of the accident was spatial disorientation, and highlighted deficiencies in the company’s oversight and safety management processes.
Captain Bade Jr. also provided an update on the NSIB’s expanded mandate, which now covers all modes of transport, including air, rail, road, and maritime.
The NSIB also said it is developing the necessary frameworks, including maritime investigation regulations, training manuals, investigation procedure policies, and manuals.
The maritime and rail frameworks are complete, and the NSIB is engaging stakeholders for their buy-in, it was learnt.
‘The NSIB is committed to promoting transport safety and conducting objective, comprehensive, and accurate investigations into transport accidents and incidents in Nigeria. With its expanded mandate, the agency is poised to play a critical role in enhancing transport safety in the country ” Capt Bade said.
