BY OLAPEJU OLUBI
The National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) is deepening engagements with key aviation agencies aimed at strengthening collaboration, improving communication with its branches and promoting a more coordinated approach to addressing issues affecting aviation professionals across Nigeria.
The initiative began with a courtesy visit by the association’s National Administrative Council (NAC), led by its National President, Captain Bunmi Gindeh, to the Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), Captain Alex Badeh Jr., at the bureau’s headquarters in Abuja.
The visit is the first in a series of planned engagements with major aviation agencies in the Federal Capital Territory, including the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the NSIB and Dornier Aviation Nigeria.
The programme is designed to deepen relationships with critical stakeholders while strengthening communication between the association’s national leadership and its branches.
NAAPE said the engagements form part of broader efforts to build a more responsive framework for addressing workplace concerns, enhancing professionalism and promoting safer operations within Nigeria’s aviation sector.
According to the association, its branches across various aviation agencies will now be encouraged to submit regular weekly or monthly reports highlighting activities, operational developments and issues affecting members.
The reports are expected to provide the National Administrative Council with timely information that will enable it to respond more effectively to emerging challenges and advocate for members where necessary.
Speaking during the visit, NAAPE President, Captain Bunmi Gindeh, said the initiative underscores the association’s commitment to maintaining closer engagement with its members while fostering stronger collaboration among stakeholders in the aviation industry.
He described effective communication as essential to the growth of any professional body, noting that the association’s branches remain the backbone of NAAPE’s operations.
“A strong professional association depends on consistent communication with its members. Our branches remain the foundation of NAAPE, and we want to ensure that their voices are heard regularly.
This engagement is designed to strengthen collaboration, improve the flow of information and enable the National Administrative Council to respond more effectively to issues affecting our members and the profession,” Gindeh said.
He added that the association would continue to engage government agencies, regulators and other industry stakeholders in pursuit of improved safety standards, enhanced professionalism and a stronger aviation ecosystem.
Gindeh noted that the aviation industry thrives on collaboration among regulators, operators, technical personnel and professional bodies, stressing that sustained dialogue remains critical to addressing industry challenges and supporting the sector’s long-term development.
Responding, the Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau, Captain Alex Badeh Jr., welcomed the initiative and commended NAAPE for promoting stronger engagement within the aviation community.
According to him, regular interaction among professional associations, regulators and technical agencies is essential for sustaining safety and operational excellence in the industry.
“The aviation industry functions best when its professional bodies, regulators and technical agencies maintain open channels of communication.
“Engagements such as this create opportunities to exchange perspectives, build mutual understanding and support the collective objective of advancing safety and professionalism within the industry,” Badeh said.
He reaffirmed the NSIB’s commitment to maintaining constructive relationships with professional associations and other industry stakeholders.
Badeh also restated the bureau’s statutory responsibility to conduct independent safety investigations and issue recommendations aimed at preventing future accidents and incidents, stressing that cooperation among stakeholders remains vital to achieving a safer aviation environment.
Industry observers believe the renewed engagement by NAAPE comes at a time when Nigeria’s aviation sector is placing greater emphasis on safety, human capacity development and institutional collaboration.
The association said the current round of visits marks only the beginning of a wider programme that will strengthen branch participation, encourage regular communication and deepen engagement with stakeholders across Nigeria’s aviation industry, with the ultimate goal of advancing the interests of aviation professionals while contributing to the continued growth and safety of the sector.
Olapeju is a journalist and aviation reporter.
