The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo has called on stakeholders and experts, professionals in the transport sector to make the implementation of safety recommendations by the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB ) a priority.
This is just as he also called for inter-ministerial task forces to ensure follow-through and accountability across sectors.
The Minister, who warned that “ignored lessons lead to repeated tragedies.” made the call while delivering a keynote address at the ongoing Multimodal Transportation Stakeholders’ Workshop with the theme: “Strengthening Transport Safety Standards Through Collaboration’ organised by the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) in Abuja, the Nigerian capital.
Investigations alone, Keyamo noted are not sufficient to achieve safety in the transport sector, stressing that their actual value lies in the adoption of safety recommendations.
“The NSIB’s final reports, which must be published within 12 months for major accidents, provide actionable insights from enhanced crew training to infrastructure upgrades. Stakeholders must prioritise these recommendations by integrating them into policies, allocating resources for implementation, and monitoring compliance. In aviation, we have adopted NSIB’s past suggestions on fatigue management and runway safety, yielding tangible improvements.
He continued, “I call on my counterparts in the transportation and marine sectors to do the same. Let us establish inter-ministerial task forces to track and enforce these recommendations, ensuring accountability at every level.,” he added.
The advocated for a strategic partnerships among all modes of transportation in Nigeria to achieve a seamless and safer transport ecosystem.
Keyamo described transportation as the “lifeblood of any nation’s economy,” connecting people, goods, and services.,adding that such connectivity comes with the grave responsibility of ensuring safety across all platforms air, rail, marine, and road.
“As the 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,” Keyamo said.
The Minister commended the NSIB’s statutory mandate which was established under the 2022 Act, that 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, and urged stakeholders such as the NCAA, NIMASA, NIWA, and NRC—to break down silos by sharing data, collaborating on training, and leveraging technologies such as AI-powered predictive safety tools.
He hailed the Agency’s timely investigations, noting that delayed investigation often times prolong uncertainty for victims and allow hazards to persist.
“The NSIB’s requirement to begin serious investigations within seven days, coupled with the commitment to publish final reports within 12 months, aligns with global best practices,” he said, citing the U.S. NTSB as a benchmark.
“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.”
Keyamo affirmed
government’s continued support for the NSIB through strategic funding, capacity development, and enabling policy environments.
He commended the NSIB for organising the August workshop,adding that it is timely and apt.
He also lauded the presence of the Ministers—Sen. Sa’idu Ahmed Alkali (Transportation) and Adegboyega Oyetola, (Marine and Blue Economy, whose attendance, he said underscored the Tinubu administration’s collective resolve to overhaul transport safety standards across Nigeria’s critical infrastructure.
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