*Akin Olateru, Director-General of Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau, in Abuja, emphasises the release of the reports is essential to fulfilment of the regulatory mandate of investigating aircraft accidents and serious incidents to enhance safety in the skies in Nigeria and globally

Emmanuel Akosile | ConsumerConnect

In line with its regulatory mandate, the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has released seven final reports on accident occurrences in aviation sector to the Nigerian public.

Mr. Akin Olateru, Director-General of NSIB, at a media briefing Thursday, December 29, 2022, in Abuja, said that the reports were essential to the fulfilment of the Bureau’s mandate of investigating aircraft accidents and serious incidents in the country.

Airplane accident scene in Nigeria

Olateru disclosed the aim of releasing the reports is to enhance safety, through safety recommendations issued, thereby assuring safe skies in Nigeria and globally.

The NSIB Director-General stated: “We remain committed, through improving our processes, human capacity and equipment, to fulfil our mandate effectively, purposefully and professionally.

“Today, we are releasing seven serious incident final reports.”

He also said, “included in the reports are 20 safety recommendations, which were addressed to the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

“Also addressed to – the affected airlines, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) among others.”

The newly released reports totals 82 aircraft accident reports released by NSIB since its establishment in 2007 and a total of 63 reports released by current administration from 2017 till date, said Olateru.

According to him, seven reports and 30 safety recommendations had been released so far in 2022 alone.

The Director-General as well noted that the Bureau had also released a total of 272 safety recommendations since inception with 191 of the recommendations released by this administration.

He further said: “The reports to be released today include; serious incident involving Bristow Helicopters Nigeria Ltd, Embraer 135 Aircraft with nationality and registration marks 5N-BSN, which occurred at Port Harcourt Military Airport (NAF BASE), Port Harcourt, on March 9, 2020.

“The serious incident involving ATR-72 Aircraft with nationality and registration marks 5N- BPG owned and operated by Overland Airways limited, which occurred at Ilorin International Airport, Nigeria, on November 29, 2014.

“The serious incident involving Boeing 737-300 Aircraft belonging to Air Peace Limited with nationality and registration Marks 5N-BUO , which occurred at FL310 enroute Enugu from Lagos on Dec. 14, 2018.”

The NSIB stressed the the serious incident involving British Aerospace BAE 125-800B Aircraft, with nationality and registration marks 5N-BOO operated by Gyro Aviation Limited, which occurred in Port Harcourt, Nigeria July 16, 2020.

He said: “The serious incident involving British Aerospace BAE 125-800B aircraft with nationality and registration marks 5N-BOO operated by Gyro Aviation Limited, which occurred at Osubi airstrip, Warri, Nigeria on Sept. 10, 2020.

“The serious incident involving a Dornier 328-100 aircraft with nationality and registration marks 5N-DOX, operated by Dornier Aviation Nigeria AIEP (DANA) Limited, which occurred at Port Harcourt military Airport on Jan. 23, 2019.

“The serious incident involving Airbus 330-243 aircraft operated by middle East Airlines with nationality and registration marks OD-MEA.”

He stated that the other was a parked Boeing 777 aircraft operated by Turkish Airlines, with nationality and registration marks TC-LJC , which occurred at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), July, 29, 2020, in Lagos.

The details of the reports, which include the factual information, findings, analysis, conclusions and safety recommendations on the investigations, he disclosed, are available for download on the organisation’s Web site.

Olateru added: “I would like to appreciate the Minister of Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, for his unrelenting support for the Bureau’s activities.

“I would also like to appreciate the NSIB team for their dedication, diligence and hard work that allows the Bureau to fulfil its mandate always.”