Akin Olateru, the Director General of Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), proudly proclaimed Nigeria’s aviation safety record as the best in Africa during a recent aviation summit held in Abuja.
According to premiumtimesng.com, Olateru’s statement came after an impressive decade of only two fatal accidents in Nigeria’s aviation industry.
Addressing the theme of the event, “Nigeria Evolving Approach to Aviation Safety and Learning from Occurrence Investigation – The NSIB Experience,” Olateru showcased Nigeria’s remarkable safety achievements. He noted, “In the last 10 years, there have been two fatal civil accidents leading to the unfortunate loss of 9 souls in Nigeria.”
Olateru provided further insights into the country’s safety performance by highlighting statistics. He mentioned that between 2005 and 2023, there were a total of 78 accidents and serious incidents in Nigeria, with four incidents listed in the safety bulletin, amounting to 82 occurrences. During this period, his agency issued 260 safety recommendations, with 12 incidents included in the Safety Bulletin, resulting in 272 safety recommendations.
The NSIB Director General credited these safety successes to the diligent implementation and enforcement of safety recommendations. He acknowledged that their appreciable enforcement played a crucial role in enhancing aviation safety since the current NSIB administration took office.
Olateru also provided historical context, noting that between 1948 and 2005, there were 154 accidents, 46 of which were fatal, resulting in a total of 1,445 passenger fatalities. He pointed out the challenges faced when the Civil Aviation Department (CAD) of the Ministry of Aviation handled both aviation occurrence investigations and airworthiness certification. This dual role created a conflict of interest as the regulator was also responsible for investigating accidents caused by regulatory oversight failures.
To address these issues, Olateru emphasized the need to align Nigeria’s aviation safety regulations and accident investigation practices with international standards, such as ICAO annexes. The key changes included separating investigative and regulatory functions, granting autonomy and investigative independence to NSIB, and ensuring the early release of accident reports.
Additionally, Olateru highlighted measures such as collaboration with neighboring countries for investigations, sharing facilities and information, developing mechanisms for early reporting of occurrences, and enhancing the technical skills of NSIB staff.
These initiatives collectively contributed to Nigeria’s evolving approach to accident investigation and aviation safety, resulting in safer skies for all.
In conclusion, Nigeria’s commitment to improving aviation safety and learning from occurrence investigations has solidified its reputation as a leader in the field within Africa, setting an example for others to follow.