The Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has demanded strict compliance with safety standards for all modes of transportation in the nation, including air, road, rail, and maritime, while cautioning that continued non-compliance could endanger lives and reduce transportation efficiency.
Abdullahi Babanya, the Bureau’s director of transport investigations, expressed concern over recurring violations of safety compliance and certification procedures during a speech on Tuesday on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief program.
His support comes in the wake of so many recent accidents in the transportation industry, particularly reoccurring boat accidents, which have claimed several lives.
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He emphasized that before operations are approved, transport authorities, particularly the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), must make sure all equipment and personnel adhere to safety standards.
The regulator is NCAA. It establishes the standards, certifies the equipment, and certifies the airworthiness of the aircraft and other flight navigation systems, Babanya said.
He explained that the NSIB works closely with organizations like the NCAA to monitor the implementation of safety recommendations and operates independently to investigate accidents involving transportation. The Bureau reviews and updates the recommendations where errors are made to ensure better outcomes.
When there are gaps in implementation, he continued, “We revisit safety recommendations, assess their effectiveness, and broaden their scope where necessary to improve overall safety.”
Babanya also disclosed that the Bureau regularly audits all sectors of the transportation industry to prevent repeat incidents and maintain constant control.
The NSIB is preparing to release new safety frameworks for the rail, maritime, and road sectors as part of its expansion plans. Effective accident investigations, in Babanya’s opinion, require well-defined rules and procedures.
He said, “We’re developing safety protocols and procedures that govern how accident investigations are conducted across all transport modes.”
He stated that the NSIB is now expanding its capabilities in other industries and has the capacity to investigate air accidents. This includes hiring more staff, expanding its lab for materials science, and installing data recorders for road traffic monitoring.
Source: Channels TV
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