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- As DG NSIB Canvasses For Collaboration
LAGOS – Mr. Festus Keyamo, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development has said that safety is very critical to the transportation industry not just in Nigeria, but globally.
This is as Capt. Alex Badeh Jnr., the Director-General of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), has said that in an era where transportation systems are increasingly interconnected, collaboration was not just beneficial, but essential to sustain and enhance safety in the system.
Speaking on Thursday in Abuja in his keynote address at a one-day Multimodal Transportation Stakeholders’ Workshop with the theme: ‘Strengthening Transport Safety Standards Through Collaboration,’ Keyamo warned that intermodal connectivity comes with the grave responsibility of ensuring safety across all platforms of transportation — air, rail, marine, and road.
Also, at the workshop were Sen. Sa’idu Ahmed Alkali, Minister of Transportation and Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola, Minister of Marine and Blue Economy.
Keyamo said that the attendance of the other two ministers underscored the President Bola Tinubu administration’s collective resolve to overhaul transport safety standards across Nigeria’s critical infrastructure.
The minister emphasised the role of transportation as the “lifeblood of any nation’s economy,” connecting people, goods, and services.
Keyamo explained that a disaster in any mode of transportation could affect the others.
He, therefore, canvassed deeper collaboration across all modes of transportation in Nigeria to achieve a seamless and safer transport ecosystem.
The minister also lauded Badeh, Mr. Dennis Jones, the former Managing Director of the United States (U.S.) National Transportation Safety Board; Engr. Seyi Sijuwade, former Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation; and Vice Admiral Dele Ezeoba (rtd.), former Chief of Naval Staff for their quality contributions towards the growth of safety in the Nigerian transportation system.
He said: “As the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, I am acutely aware of the unique challenges facing our sector—from air traffic control to aircraft maintenance and climate-related disruptions. But safety knows no boundaries.
“An incident on the railway can affect air cargo logistics. A marine mishap can hinder road access to ports. Our systems are interlinked. That is why a multimodal, collaborative approach is not optional—it is essential,” he declared.
He further commended the NSIB’s statutory mandate, established under the 2022 Act, which empowers it to conduct independent investigations into occurrences across all modes of transportation.
He hailed the bureau’s regulatory reforms, which focused on prevention rather than blame.
He further urged stakeholders—including the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), the Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) and the Nigerian Railways Corporation (NRC) to break down silos by sharing data, collaborating on training, and leveraging technologies such as AI-powered predictive safety tools.
He added: “The path to zero accidents requires unwavering collaboration and teamwork. Let this workshop serve as a catalyst to forge partnerships that transcend traditional boundaries.
“Together, we can build resilient systems: from safer skies to smarter railways, secure maritime corridors, and accident-free roadways.”
Also, Capt. Alex Badeh Jnr., the Director-General of NSIB, in his welcome address, reiterated the importance of collaboration in the transportation mode.
Badeh said that the essence of the workshop was to foster open dialogue, exchange insights, and collectively refine the frameworks that safeguard lives and infrastructure in aviation, maritime, and railway sectors.
He declared that by working together, gaps in the system could be identify, sharing of best practices is made possible and building of resilient safety mechanisms that aligned with international standards.
He expressed that the bureau would be excited to present and discuss three key regulatory drafts that formed the cornerstone of its efforts.
These included 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.
Also, he mentioned 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.
Besides, 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.
He added: “These drafts represent months of dedicated work by our teams at NSIB, informed by data, expert consultations, and real-world experiences. Today, we invite your valuable input to refine them further, ensuring they are practical, enforceable, and effective in preventing future incidents.
“I am confident that the discussions ahead will yield actionable outcomes, strengthening our collective resolve to prioritize safety. Let us embrace this opportunity to collaborate, innovate, and elevate standards for the benefit of all Nigerians.”
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