The Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development has firmly rejected a legislative move aimed at transferring oversight of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) to the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).
This position was made public during a one-day public hearing organized by the House of Representatives Joint Committees on Aviation and Special Duties at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja.
Representing Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo, Permanent Secretary Ibrahim Kana emphasized the NSIB’s multi-modal safety function across aviation, rail, maritime, and road transport sectors, but stressed that its technical foundation is deeply rooted in aviation, in accordance with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) protocols.
“Transferring oversight of the NSIB could politicize its functions, reduce accountability, and create policy disarray,” Kana warned.
He further explained that the existing supervisory structure guarantees the Bureau’s independence while maintaining operational efficiency under the Ministry’s specialized aviation expertise.
Kana cited the continued access to aviation-specific technical support, regulatory compliance with international and domestic laws, operational autonomy free from political interference, faster response time to safety crises, and avoidance of bureaucratic delays and fragmentation as reasons why the NSIB should remain within the Ministry
He assured stakeholders of the ministry’s readiness to collaborate on safety reforms, noting that principal NSIB officers are already appointed by the President, thereby safeguarding their independence.
“We are committed to working with all relevant parties to improve Nigeria’s transport safety in line with global best practices,” Kana affirmed.
Chairman of the House Committee on Special Duties, Agbedi Frederick, opened the hearing by highlighting the significance of the bill and urging stakeholders to contribute meaningfully to refining the NSIB Act.
“This hearing is a platform for shaping a safer and more efficient Nigeria,” Agbedi concluded.
