Aviation stakeholders back National Assembly over amendment to remove NSIB from Aviation Ministry
As maritime operators dismiss and query NSIB's competency
By Gboyega Oni
The proposed amendment Bill seeking to transfer the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) to the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) by the National Assembly has received the backing of key aviation stakeholders.
The stakeholders who pleaded not to mention their names told PortNews in Lagos that the NSIB is a misfit in the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development because it not only provides services for aviation but also for maritime, railway, road and the environment.
The stakeholders noted that attaching NSIB, that is multimodal in nature, to the aviation ministry has limited its potentialities against the mandate given to it by the parliamentary Act that set up it.
They averred that NSIB, an agency under the supervision of the Aviation Ministry, would not find it easy to investigate marine incidents and accidents which the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) is legislative empowered to perform. According to them, “NIMASA wont want to yield its function to an intruder.”
Technically, they said, NSIB is not equipped to discharge this function as only the NIMASA is known and recognized the International Maritime Organization (IMO). And as a matter of fact, NIMASA is the only agency in Nigeria that is a signatory to the IMO Conventions and Regulations that guide marine incidents and accidents investigation and management.
They however foresaw a possibility of collision over investigation and management of marine incidents and accidents between NSIB and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) should NSIB Act is not amended and is still in the aviation ministry. They said the outcome of this situation will impact Nigeria badly.
To avoid this, they urged the National Assembly to match on with the amendment of the NSIB Act while not submitting to the selfish intention of the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Barrister Festus Keyamo, in retaining NSIB.
The stakeholders watered down the underscored benefits of keeping the NSIB in the aviation as the Minister said, averring that NSIB is not better off in the ministry as it could not deliver its multimodal mandates to other agencies who are skeptical of dealing with it. They maintained that in as much NSIB is still in the aviation, NIMASA, railway and other modes of transportation would not extend hands of fellowship to it.
The aviation operators also urged the National Assembly to amend the the Nigeria Meteorology Service (NIMET) Act too, also a misfit in the aviation ministry, and remove it from the aviation ministry. They advised that it should be situated in the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
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Some marine stakeholders who spoke to PortNews said they have never heard of an agency called NSIB. They wondered how an aviation agency would investigate marine incidents and accidents, asking “where is its expertise”? They said such an agency cannot come through back door to carry out a technical function as marine accident investigation.
It would be recalled that the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development had strongly advocated for the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) to remain under its supervision, in response to a proposed amendment Bill seeking to transfer the Bureau to the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF).
Representing the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. Ibrahim Abubakar Kana, mni, presented this stance during a one-day Public Hearing conducted by the House of Representatives Joint Committees on Aviation and Special Duties at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja, recently.
The hearing focused on proposed amendments to the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) Act No. 35 of 2022.
Dr. Kana highlighted the NSIB’s role as a multi-modal transport safety investigation agency that covers aviation, maritime, rail, and road sectors. Despite this broad scope, its core technical expertise and institutional framework are aviation-based and aligned with international standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
He underscored the benefits of keeping the NSIB within the Ministry, including access to specialized aviation and aerospace knowledge, adherence to regulatory frameworks, operational support without affecting independence, rapid response capabilities, and avoidance of bureaucratic delays.
He warned that moving the Bureau could risk politicization, weaken accountability, and disrupt coherent safety policies. The existing structure currently guarantees the NSIB’s autonomy, with leadership appointed by the President per legal and ICAO guidelines.
The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to collaborating with all stakeholders to advance Nigeria’s transport safety in line with global best practices.
Hon. Agbedi Veitiemone Frederick, Ph.D, Chairman of the House Committee on Special Duties, emphasized the importance of the amendment process for enhancing the NSIB’s mandate and called for robust public participation, describing the hearing as a critical step towards stronger national safety measures.
The hearing featured key national figures and stakeholders, including representatives from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, relevant committee chairs, industry experts, civil society groups, and media, all contributing valuable input on the Bill.
