Aviation Ministry Kicks Against Bill Relocating Safety Investigation Bureau to SGF

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development has opposed the bill seeking to relocate Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) to the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF).

The ministry firmly opposed the proposal during a public hearing held on Wednesday in Abuja, organised by the joint House Committees on Special Duties and Aviation.

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Dr. Abubakar Kana, urged lawmakers to retain the bureau under the aviation ministry.

Kana, however, advocated a strengthened legal and operational framework to guarantee its functional independence.

“I recommend that the National Assembly and its relevant stakeholders retain the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau within the Federal Ministry of Aviation,” Kana said.

In his submission, Permanent Secretary, Political and Economic Affairs at OSGF, Me. Gagare Nadungu, argued that the presidency, through the SGF, offered a centralised coordination structure better suited to host the bureau.

Nadungu said placing the NSIB under the presidency would promote broader national oversight and institutional independence.

On his part, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Dr. Onwusoro Maduka, stressed the need for the bureau to operate independently, especially in the conduct of accident investigations.

But Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, described the amendment as a proactive effort to enhance transport safety and align Nigeria’s systems with global standards.

Abbas, who was represented by Hon. Kwamoti Laori, said the green chamber was ready to provide the legislative support necessary to strengthen key sectors of the national economy.

He added that aviation, land, and maritime transport collectively formed the backbone of any modern, thriving society.

Chairman of the House Committee on Special Duties, Hon. Agbedi Fredrick, described the session as a platform for inclusive governance and constructive dialogue.

Fredrick said, “We are here today because we care about the safety of Nigerians—whether in the air, on land, or at sea.

“We also believe in the value of public input in shaping laws that impact our national infrastructure. Your voices—as experts, operators, civil society actors, and concerned citizens are crucial. The success of this process depends on your honest contributions and informed perspectives.”

The sponsor of the bill, Hon. Isiaq Akinlade, argued that the bureau’s current placement under the aviation ministry hampered its effectiveness due to institutional bottlenecks, lack of independence, and poor inter-agency coordination across Nigeria’s transport regulatory ecosystem.

Akinlade said, “Globally, leading accident investigation bodies like the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in the United States operate as autonomous agencies, reporting directly to the highest levels of government.”