Aviation ministry kicks as reps move to place safety bureau under presidency

The house of representatives is considering a bill to transfer the Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) from the ministry of aviation and aerospace development to the presidency.

The bill aims to amend the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau Act 2022.

The proposed legislation, having scaled second reading at the green chamber, a critical stage in the legislative process, is undergoing further scrutiny at the committee on aviation.

The NSIB is responsible for investigating transportation accidents and serious incidents involving Nigerian-registered aircraft, ships, trains, or vehicles—whether within the country or abroad.

Speaking at the public hearing on the bill on Wednesday, Akinlade Isiaq, the lawmaker sponsoring the bill, said NSIB’s effectiveness is hindered by its current placement under the ministry of aviation.

“This limitation undermines the bureau’s ability to fulfil its mandate due to institutional bottlenecks, lack of independence, and fragmented inter-agency coordination across Nigeria’s transport regulatory ecosystem,” Isiaq said.

The legislator said leading accident investigation bodies, such as the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in the United States, operate as autonomous agencies, directly reporting to the “highest level of government”.

He said this structure ensures independence, credibility, and efficiency in accident investigation processes.

The lawmaker said NSIB’s placement under the ministry of aviation raises concerns about impartiality and operational autonomy, which are critical for conducting credible investigations.

Isiaq said reporting through a single ministry restricts the NSIB’s access to higher-level decision-making required for swiftly resolving inter-agency conflicts and implementing safety recommendations.

“Countries such as the United States (NTSB), Australia, Japan, and Canada operate independent accident investigation bodies, which serve as benchmarks for efficiency, impartiality, and credibility,” he said.

The legislator said autonomy will eliminate mandate overlaps, streamline collaboration between NSIB and regulatory agencies, and enhance safety regulation enforcement across all transportation sectors.

“Independence from ministerial control ensures transparency and accountability in investigations, strengthening public confidence in the findings and safety recommendations,” he said.

The office of the secretary to the government of the federation (OSGF) backed the bill.

Gagare Nadungu, permanent secretary for political and economic affairs at the OSGF, called the move a crucial and well-timed step towards meaningful reform.

Nadungu noted that placing the NSIB under the presidency would ensure the bureau operates with the impartiality and autonomy needed to conduct credible investigations.

AVIATION MINISTRY KICKS 

However, Abubakar Kana, permanent secretary at the federal ministry of aviation and aerospace development, who represented Festus Keyamo, minister of aviation, opposed the bill.

He noted that instead of moving NSIB to the presidency, lawmakers should strengthen the agency’s operational framework to guarantee independence.

“I recommend that the national assembly and its relevant stakeholders should please retain the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau within the federal ministry of aviation,” he said.

“We further recommend strengthening subsequent provisions that guarantee its functional independence where necessary.”