NSIB Pioneers Multimodal Safety Oversight to Enhance Transportation Safety in Nigeria
Oru Leonard
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), has reaffirmed its commitment to improving transportation safety across all modes in Nigeria, including air, marine, rail, and land transport. With its expanded mandate, the Bureau is developing two critical regulatory frameworks; NSIB Casualty Investigation Regulations for Maritime Mode of Transport and, Rail and Track Accident Investigation Regulations for the Rail Sector
These frameworks aim to standardize investigations, prevent accidents, and enhance safety across Nigeria’s transport infrastructure.
NSIB’s harmonized approach to safety oversight across different transport modes with frameworks aligned with global standards, such as IMO Casualty Investigation Code and ICAO Annex 13
NSIB engaging with agencies and the public to ensure effective implementation of safety recommendations
According to Capt. Alex Badeh Jnr, Director General/CEO of NSIB, the goal is not merely to investigate accidents, but to ensure that every finding and every safety recommendation becomes a cornerstone for safer transportation in Nigeria. Our regulations are not only about compliance; they are about relevance, relevance to our waterways, rail systems, and the millions of Nigerians who depend on them daily.”
The development of these regulations has been rooted in inclusive consultation, incorporating field visits to jetties, inland waterways, ports, and rail infrastructure across Nigeria. This practical engagement ensures the regulations are adaptable, devoid of theoretical ambiguities, and fully responsive to Nigeria’s transport landscape.
However, while NSIB remains responsible for conducting independent investigations and issuing safety recommendations, the responsibility for implementation lies with other critical agencies.
In this regard, NSIB is calling on stakeholders such as the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigerian Shippers Council, National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), and the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) to begin proactively building internal capacity for the adoption and implementation of NSIB safety recommendations.
The NSIB is working towards creating a unified culture of safety across Nigeria’s transport infrastructure, with a focus on preventing accidents and enhancing safety for all Nigerians.
