AIB-N to NSIB

AIB-N BEGINS TRANSITION TO NSIB

ZAINAB JUNAID 

The Accident Investigation Bureau Nigeria (AIB-N) has commenced the process for the transition into a multimodal accident investigation body with the setting up of an in-house committee for the implementation of the new act on the establishment of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB).

This followed the assent of the new NSIB Act 2022 by President Muhammed Buhari and the Supreme Court Gazette, which was released on November 28, 2022.

A statement signed by the General Manager, Public Affairs of the Bureau, Mr. Tunji Oketunbi, partly read that with the new development, the nomenclature of the Chief Executive Officer of the Bureau has thus changed from Commissioner to Director-General of NSIB. 

In the statement, “The newly established NSIB is now responsible for the investigation of air, marine, rail and other modes of transportation serious incidents and accidents in Nigeria and anywhere the country’s interest is affected."

The statement further confirmed the Commissioner of the Bureau, Engr. Akin Olateru said “The new Act will further enhance safety in all modes of transportation in the country as serious incidents and accidents would be investigated and recurrence prevented”.

Olateru, according to the statement, said, “With this development, Nigeria would be moving with global trends in ensuring safety in all transportation modes. The National Assembly has done great passing the bill and the President given his consent made it a realisable dream. I also commend Hon. Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika and the Federal Ministry of Aviation for championing the creation of the NSIB, as this will open a new chapter in Transportation Safety in Nigeria.”

On the inauguration of the committee for the implementation of the new act that establishes the NSIB, the Commissioner commended the staff and management of AIB-N for their support and sacrifices of ensuring that the bill saw the light of day.

His words, “We did it together in the interest of the country. I salute your commitment, sacrifices and determination without which we would not have achieved this”.

“The expansion of AIB-N scope of operations into a multimodal agency was one of the cardinal programmes of Engr. Akin Olateru when he assumed office in 2017.

“With this in mind, the Bureau, under his leadership had vigorously canvassed for the establishment of the NSIB that would enable the Bureau to extend its mandate to cover not only the investigation of air mishaps but also that of other modes of transportation in accordance with global standard practices."

However, the Commissioner, in 2020, at a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Aviation and the House Committee on Aviation for the passage of the NSIB bill, had assured the committee that the NSIB would enable the Bureau to improve the safety standard of the country’s transportation network through quality investigation of accident and serious incident occurrences, timely publication of reports and safety recommendations.

“AIB-N, whose mandate was to investigate air mishaps in the country, with its rigorous investigations and timely release of reports and safety recommendations, has greatly enhanced safety within the industry.

“The Bureau, from inception, has released 71 reports and 252 safety recommendations, out of which 58 reports and 194 safety recommendations were released by Olateru’s administration.

“The current administration at AIB-N also released four safety Bulletins since assumption of office in 2017.

“This safety standard achieved in the aviation industry would now be replicated in other modes of transportation in the country through the NSIB.

The purpose of accident investigation is not to apportion blame or liability but to prevent future recurrence of similar incidents,” the statement read.