NSIB Clarifies Wigwe Crash Role, Defends Nigerian Airport Safety, Unveils Broader Transport Mandate
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has firmly addressed international concerns about the safety of Nigerian airports, clarified its involvement in the helicopter crash that claimed the life of prominent banker Herbert Wigwe, and offered detailed insight into its broadened responsibility as the country’s chief investigator of transport incidents across all sectors.
This comes in response to a recent U.S. State Department assertion suggesting that Nigerian airports are generally unsafe.
Speaking during an interview on Arise Television, Director General of the NSIB, Captain Alex Bade Jr., dismissed the sweeping generalisation, describing it as misrepresentative and lacking context.
“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. stated.
He acknowledged challenges such as perimeter fencing and occasional wildlife intrusions but was quick to point out that these issues are not unique to Nigeria.
“It’s unfair to generalise that our airports are totally unsafe. These incidents happen globally, even in the United States. We commend the efforts of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) in implementing ongoing upgrades,” he added.
One recent incident cited by critics involved an aircraft encountering animals on the runway at Asaba Airport.
Addressing this, Captain Bade Jr. explained, “The aircraft continued its journey to Abuja without any damage. The matter was reported to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), but since there was no serious damage or safety breach, it did not fall within NSIB’s investigative purview. Still, we plan to engage the private airport operator to share best practices.”
He stressed that such incidents remain rare and should not be sensationalised.
Turning to the tragic crash involving the late Access Holdings CEO, Herbert Wigwe, Captain Bade Jr. corrected media reports which claimed the NSIB worked “side-by-side” with the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
“We were an interested party in the investigation, not co-investigators. The NTSB led the process in the United States, and we were kept informed throughout,” he clarified.
The NTSB has since released a report attributing the likely cause of the crash to spatial disorientation. Captain Bade Jr. highlighted that the report also pointed to lapses in the operating company’s oversight and safety management systems.
“There were systemic failures. A robust flight risk assessment should have flagged the flight as high-risk. Blaming the pilot alone is simplistic – there’s a whole system behind every flight that must function properly,” he said.
In a forward-looking move, the NSIB announced it has fully embraced its expanded mandate as Nigeria’s sole accident investigation body across aviation, road, rail, and maritime transport.
“Under the NSIB Establishment Act of 2022, we are now responsible for investigating accidents in all modes of transport. We’ve finalised frameworks for maritime and rail investigations and are developing comprehensive training manuals, policies, and procedures. Stakeholder engagement is ongoing to ensure effective implementation,” Captain Bade Jr. revealed.
He reaffirmed the Bureau’s commitment to unbiased and rigorous investigations aimed at improving transport safety in Nigeria. “Our goal remains the same – to save lives through systemic improvements,” he concluded.
The NSIB is a multimodal transport agency dedicated to promoting safety across air, rail, road, and maritime transport sectors in Nigeria.
It conducts objective investigations to identify root causes of incidents and recommends safety improvements.
