NSIB Responds to Airport Safety Concerns and Updates on Wigwe Crash Investigation
Oru Leonard
Director General of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB),Captain Alex Bade Jr., has addressed recent concerns about the safety of Nigerian airports, clarified its role in the investigation of the helicopter crash involving the late Herbert Wigwe, and provided updates on its expanded mandate.
During an interview on Arise TV, the
NSIB Boss disagreed with the U.S. State Department’s assessment that Nigerian airports are generally unsafe, citing the need for context and metrics used in such evaluations.
– *Challenges*: The NSIB acknowledges challenges such as perimeter fencing and wildlife intrusion at some airports, but notes that these issues are not unique to Nigeria.
‘While there is always room for improvement, the NSIB does not concur with the assessment that Nigerian airports are generally unsafe. It’s crucial to consider the context and metrics used in such evaluations”, Captain Bade Jr. said and acknowledfed that challenges such as perimeter fencing and instances of wildlife intrusion exist at some airports.
However, he emphasised that these are not unique to Nigeria and occur at airports globally, including in the United States, nothing that,”It’s unfair to generalise that our airports are totally unsafe. We recognise the need for continuous improvement, and we commend the efforts of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), in implementing upgrades”, the recent incident in Asaba, where an aircraft was reported to have encountered animals on the runway, the DG clarified,
On Wigwe Crash Investigation,
the NSIB said that it was an interested party in the investigation, led by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), and was kept informed throughout the process.
The NTSB report identified spatial disorientation as the probable cause of the accident, highlighting deficiencies in the company’s oversight and safety management processes.
The NSIB remains committed to promoting transport safety and conducting objective investigations into transport accidents and incidents in Nigeria.
About NSIB: The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau is a multimodal transport agency charged with the mandate of promoting transport safety and conducting objective, comprehensive, and accurate investigations into transport accidents and incidents in Nigeria. Our aim is to identify probable causes and advocate for safety improvements based on our findings.For further enquiries or media requests, please contact NSIB through info@nsib.gov.ng and NSIB_Nigeria on its social media platforms. The Bureau can also be reached on its emergency line at +234-807-709-0909.
