BY OLAPEJU OLUBI
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has taken a strategic step toward strengthening the nation’s transport safety landscape with the unveiling of three landmark regulatory drafts designed to elevate accident investigations in aviation, maritime and railway sectors.
The drafts; Railway (Investigation of Accidents and Incidents) Regulations, Maritime Safety Investigation Regulations and the Revised Civil Aviation (Investigation of Air Accidents and Incidents) Regulations, were presented during the Multimodal Transportation Stakeholders Workshop held Thursday in Abuja.
Themed “Strengthening Transport Safety Standards Through Collaboration,” the event drew senior government officials, including ministers from the aviation and maritime sectors, alongside renowned industry experts.
Captain Alex Badeh Jnr, Director-General of NSIB, described the regulations as a collective call to action for safer, more resilient transport systems.
“Our primary objective is to foster open dialogue, exchange insights, and collectively refine the frameworks that safeguard lives and infrastructure in aviation, maritime, and railway sectors.
“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 safety mechanisms that align with international standards while addressing our unique national challenges”, he explained
The new regulations aim to close systemic gaps, introduce global best practices, and leverage emerging technologies to ensure that investigations are thorough, transparent, and effective in preventing future incidents.
The railway and maritime drafts, in particular, seek to bring unprecedented accountability to sectors often overlooked in the safety conversation, while the revised aviation regulations build on an already robust framework.
Badeh paid tribute to the NSIB teams behind the drafts, calling them the product of “months of dedicated work, 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.
“I am confident the discussions ahead will yield actionable outcomes, strengthening our collective resolve to prioritize safety. Let us embrace this opportunity to collaborate, innovate, and elevate standards for the benefit of all Nigerians”, he added.
Experts in attendance, including former United States National Transportation Safety Board Managing Director Dennis Jones; former Nigerian Railway Corporation MD Engineer Seyi Sijuwade; and retired Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Dele Ezeoba, lent their expertise, further reinforcing the importance of building a unified approach to safety oversight.
With the unveiling of these drafts, the NSIB is calling on stakeholders to provide feedback, ensuring the final regulations reflect a shared vision of safer skies, waterways, and rail lines for Nigeria.
