The transition of the former Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) into the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) in 2022 has sparked conversations regarding its placement within the aviation sector, especially after its mandate was broadened to include investigations beyond aviation incidents.
The NSIB Act of 2022 has effectively supplanted the AIB's establishment Act under the Civil Aviation Act of 2006.
The NSIB identifies its primary purpose as enhancing transportation safety through the investigation of accidents and serious incidents across multiple transport modes and providing safety recommendations aimed at preventing future occurrences. Importantly, this process emphasizes that the intent is not to assign blame or liability.
With its responsibilities now extending to other sectors such as the Ministry of Transportation, which oversees rail and road operations, as well as the Marine and Blue Economy departments responsible for maritime and water transport, experts argue that it makes little sense for the bureau to remain part of the Aviation Ministry.
In July 2025, a public hearing was held in Abuja by joint House Committees on Special Duties and Aviation regarding a proposed bill to shift the NSIB from the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development to the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF).
The Aviation Ministry opposed this proposed change. During the discussions, Permanent Secretary Dr. Abubakar Kana encouraged lawmakers to keep the bureau within the aviation ministry, advocating for a reinforced legal and operational framework to ensure its independence.
“I recommend that the National Assembly and its relevant stakeholders retain the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau within the Federal Ministry of Aviation,” Dr. Kana stated.
Conversely, Engr. Gagare Nadungu, Permanent Secretary for Political and Economic Affairs at the OSGF, supported the bill, suggesting that the presidency provides a more centralized coordination approach suitable for housing the bureau.
Dr. Onwusoro Maduka, the then-Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, stressed the importance of the bureau being independent, particularly during accident investigations.
The consensus among participants underscored the critical need for the bureau's independence in conducting accident investigations to enhance efficacy and professionalism.
On this basis, the presidency made what is viewed as a decisive move to detach the agency from the Ministry of Aviation and place it under the direct purview of the Presidency.
Earlier this month, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu granted approval for the NSIB's repositioning, allowing it to report directly to the Presidency.
This approval was communicated via State House correspondence dated March 5, 2026, and was forwarded to the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development on March 11 for prompt execution. Additionally, it instructs the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation to modify the NSIB Establishment Act 2022 and present the proposed alterations to the National Assembly.
Consequently, the bureau is now free from the oversight of the aviation ministry and functions within a governance framework that is more aligned with national policy management.
The decision was reportedly based on the necessity to enhance the bureau's effectiveness, which was being compromised due to its placement within the Ministry of Aviation. An insider conveyed that the “Bureau’s effectiveness is currently limited by its placement under the Ministry of Aviation.”
It was highlighted that this structural limitation hampers the NSIB's ability to fully fulfill its mandate as it oversees not only aviation accident investigations but also marine, rail, and vehicle accidents throughout Nigeria.
As noted by Daily Trust, by removing the agency from the Aviation Ministry, the federal government is aligning with global precedents where bodies responsible for accident investigations function as autonomous entities reporting directly to the highest level of government. Examples include the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which operates independently and reports to Congress, and the UK's Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB).
“This structure promotes independence, credibility, and efficiency in accident investigation processes,” a source remarked.
Experts have characterized this strategic decision as one of the most significant steps toward bolstering transportation safety through effective accident investigations. They expressed optimism that the NSIB's successful track record in the aviation domain will extend to other transportation sectors, greatly enhancing safety standards in rail, road, and maritime industries.
Professor Ibe Callistus, a transportation expert, described this move as the most commendable decision to enhance transportation safety. He emphasized that with the NSIB's broadened scope as a multi-modal investigation agency, it is best positioned away from any single Ministry.
“It represents the best decision ever. The bureau now functions as a multi- modal investigation agency and must be under the Presidency. This structure enables the bureau to address safety across all transport modes. Its primary aim is to investigate the causes of accidents for prevention. Relocating it from the aviation sphere to the presidency is, therefore, the best course of action,” he elaborated.
Callistus advocates for the National Assembly to prioritize amendments to the NSIB Establishment Act to execute the presidential directive.
“The bureau serves the interests of state safety and it's imperative that the National Assembly expedites this approval,” he added.
Additionally, aviation analyst Capt. Samuel Caulcrick pointed out, “The shift is reasonable given its multi-modal nature and implies enhanced funding, free from regular budget constraints, especially during emergencies as it will now be funded by the Presidency Service-Wide Votes.
“Given its multi-modal approach, establishing a corresponding desk for each transport sector would be sufficient. Synergies from these sector-specific desks would bolster accident investigations,” he noted.
While stakeholders eagerly await the presidential directive's implementation, there is a shared view that the new framework promises improved operational efficiency, effectiveness, and professionalism for the bureau in accident investigations, unencumbered by any ministerial oversight.
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