Sunday Aborisade in Abuja
The new Director General of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), Mr. Alex Badeh, yesterday promised to ensure safety of all passengers travelling by air, on water and land in Nigeria
He pledged to immediately start engaging all stakeholders in the air, water, rail and land transportation sector with a view to fashioning out an enduring means of ending needless loss of lives and property due to accidents.
Badeh, who commended his predecessor, Mr. Akin Olateru, who he said had contributed enormously to improving transport safety in the country, stated this in a copy of his speech released to staff of the agency when he assumed office in Abuja.
“Your service has laid the foundation upon which we can all build, and I pledge to carry the torch of safety to greater heights,” he said.
The director general pledged to align his vision for the agency with that of the visionary directives and foresight of the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace, Mr. Festus Keyamo (SAN).
He said Keyamo had charted a clear course through his five-point agenda for the ministry, under which the NSIB is domiciled.
The new NSIB boss expressed his happiness to be part of the team navigating the course of implementing the first point of the agenda, which focuses on ensuring strict compliance with safety regulations and continuously enhancing Nigeria’s rating by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
Badeh said: “As I have seen the scars of tragedy, felt the sting of loss, and understand the ripple effect of a single accident.
” It is this understanding that fuels my passion, drives my resolve, and compels me to dedicate every ounce of my being to ensuring that no journey ends in sorrow and no life is lost in vain.
“I see a future where Nigerian skies are the safest in Africa, our trains glide seamlessly across the land, our waterways are traversed with confidence, and every journey, by any mode, is undertaken with the utmost assurance of safety.
“My vision for the NSIB is to be an agency defined not by the tragedies we investigate, but by the transformative advancements in transport safety that we inspire. We will not simply react to accidents; we will proactively prevent them from occurring.”
He also promised to harness the power of data, technology, and human ingenuity to build a future where every journey is undertaken with peace of mind and every mile traversed with the assurance of a safe return.
“As the director general, my foremost duty is to act as an extension of the minister’s mission by prioritising the adoption of international safety standards across all modes of transport.
“Our commitment to excellence will extend beyond compliance; it will also be devoted to driving transformative change for a safer tomorrow. Our goal is a multimodal transport system that is accident-free all year round. It is indeed an ambitious goal, but possible.
“To achieve this, we will leverage cutting-edge technology to revolutionise safety protocols, proactively identifying and addressing potential risks, while also offering intrepid recommendations to the relevant authorities,” he added.
To achieve his vision for the agency, Badeh pledged to work closely with the ministry of aviation and aerospace, as well as stakeholders across all government ministries, departments, and agencies.
He also promised to interact closely with the airlines, maritime authorities, rail operators, road agencies, and most importantly, the Nigerian people.
He said: “In aviation, we will collaborate with the airlines and regulatory bodies to strengthen safety management systems.
“We will work with maritime stakeholders to enhance safety measures across all operations, from passenger ferries to fishing vessels and cargo ships.
“We will engage the leadership of the railway corporation on implementing modern technology to significantly prevent incursion, collision, derailment and protect railway workers.
“We will also partner with the Federal Road Safety Corps to tackle the leading causes of road accidents such as speeding, distracted driving and alcohol impairment.”
Based on a comprehensive baseline analysis of transport safety that the NSIB will commission, Badeh pledged to develop specific collaborative efforts and launch targeted public awareness campaigns to make transport network safer for everyone.
“This journey, however, will not be easy. Accidents may occur, and lives may tragically be lost, but in the face of any tragedy, I promise that the NSIB will stand firm,” he added.
