By Ikugbadi Oluwasegun
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has responded to a Statement From the U.S. State Department Suggesting Nigerian Airports Are Generally Unsafe, the Director General of the Nsib, Alex Bade Says the NSIB Does Not Agree With the Assessment.
Bimbo Olawumi Oladeji, Director of Public Affairs and Family Assistance, Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau in a Statement Says Captain Bade Acknowledged That Challenges Such as Perimeter Fencing and Instances of Wildlife Intrusion Exist at Some Airports. However, He Emphasised That These Are Not Unique to Nigeria and Occurs at Airports Globally, Including in the United States.
Regarding the Recent Incident in Asaba, Where an Aircraft Was Reported to Have Encountered Animals on the Runway, the Dg Clarified That the Aircraft Continued Its Journey to Abuja Without Any Damage. He Further Stated That Such Occurrences Involving Animals on Runways Are Rare in Nigeria.
On the Investigation Into the Accident Involving the Late Herbert Wigwe’s Helicopter Crash Which Occurred on the 9th of February , 2024 in the United State, Captain Bade Corrected the Assertion That the Nsib Worked “Side-by-side” With the U.s. National Transportation Safety Board (Ntsb), Saying Nsib Was Only an Interested Party, and Was Kept Abreast of the Process by the Ntsb, Who Led the Investigation in the U.s.
While the Us-ntsb Investigation Report Cited Pilot’s Disorientation as Primary Cause of the Crash and the Violation of Flight Protocols Among Others, Nsib Expressed Different View Highlighting Systematic Failure, Adding That the Blame Shouldn’t Be Placed Solely on the Pilot but on the System That Failed to Mitigate Risks Also.
