NSIB to engage company managing Asaba airport over aircraft-antelope collision

Alex Badeh, director-general of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), says it will engage the private company managing the Asaba airport over the aircraft-antelope collision.

Badeh spoke in a statement on Wednesday, issued by Bimbo Oladeji, NSIB’s director of public affairs and family assistance.

On May 11, an Air Peace plane hit and killed an antelope at the airport, resulting in significant flight disruptions.

The director-general explained that the aircraft was undamaged and continued its journey to Abuja.

“The incident was reported to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA). Since there was no significant issue, it was not reported to the NSIB. However, we plan to engage the private entity managing the airport to discuss best practices,” he said.

Badeh added that such occurrences are rare in Nigeria.

‘NIGERIAN AIRPORTS NOT GENERALLY UNSAFE’

Speaking further, the NSIB director-general said Nigerian airports are not generally unsafe, responding to a US Department of State assessment.

Badeh said there is always room for improvement, but “the NSIB does not concur with such an assessment”.

“NSIB has responded to recent concerns regarding the safety of Nigerian airports, clarified its role in the investigation of the helicopter crash involving late Herbert Wigwe, and provided updates on its expanded mandate covering all modes of transport,” he said.

Badeh emphasised the importance of context and metrics in such evaluations.

While acknowledging challenges like perimeter fencing and occasional wildlife intrusion at some airports, he noted that the issues are not unique to Nigeria but occur globally, including in the US.

“It is, therefore, unfair to generalise that our airports are totally unsafe,” Badeh said.

He commended the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) for its efforts to upgrade wildlife management at Nigerian airports.