Festus Keyamo, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, has said that investigations alone are insufficient to achieve zero accidents in Nigeria, but the actual value lies in the adoption of safety recommendations.

Speaking during the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) Multimodal Transportation Stakeholders’ Workshop in Abuja, Keyamo stressed that history has taught that ignored lessons lead to repeated tragedies.

The minister said 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.

“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,” Keyamo said.

He emphasised that the path to zero accidents requires unwavering collaboration and teamwork.

“Together, we can build resilient systems: robust air traffic controls, safer railways with advanced signals, secure marine routes with modern navigation aids, and integrated emergency protocols.

“Our government is committed to supporting NSIB through funding, capacity building, and policy alignment. We envision a Nigeria where every journey is safe, every family reunited, and our economy thrives on the wheels of secure transport,” Keyamo said.

He noted that equally critical is the timely investigation of occurrences, adding that the delays in probing accidents not only prolong uncertainty for victims’ families but also allow preventable risks to persist.

He said the NSIB’s mandate to commence investigations swiftly within seven days for serious incidents ensures that evidence is preserved, witnesses are interviewed promptly, and causal factors are identified without undue hindrance.

“Drawing from global benchmarks, such as those from the U.S. NTSB, timely investigations enable rapid dissemination of preliminary findings, allowing operators to implement interim safeguards.

“In marine safety, for example, the draft Regulations stress the separation of investigations from judicial proceedings, focusing solely on prevention. This independence fosters trust and encourages reporting without fear of reprisal,” he added.

Speaking on the theme of the event, ‘Strengthening Transport Safety Standards through Collaboration’, Alex Badeh Jr., Director General, NSIB, said the primary objective of the event is to foster open dialogue, exchange insights, and collectively refine the frameworks that safeguard lives and infrastructure in aviation, maritime, and railway sectors.

Badeh stated that in an era where transportation systems are increasingly interconnected, collaboration is not just beneficial—it is essential.

“By working together, we can identify gaps, share best practices, and build resilient safety mechanisms that align with international standards while addressing our unique national challenges,” he said.

He said first, the Railway (Investigation of Accidents and Incidents) Regulations Draft aims to establish robust procedures for probing railway mishaps, ensuring thorough analysis and preventive recommendations to enhance rail safety nationwide.

Second, the Maritime Safety Investigation Regulations Draft, designed to streamline investigations into maritime accidents and incidents, promoting transparency, accountability, and improved safety protocols in our vital waterways and ports, he said.

He recommended a comprehensive review of the Revised Civil Aviation (Investigation of Air Accidents and Incidents) Regulations Draft, which builds on existing frameworks to incorporate emerging technologies, global lessons learned, and stakeholder feedback for even stronger aviation safety oversight.

“These drafts represent months of dedicated work by our teams at NSIB, informed by data, expert consultations, and real-world experiences. Today, we invite your valuable input to refine them further, ensuring they are practical, enforceable, and effective in preventing future incidents,” Badeh said. (BusinesDay)