Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) today called for due diligence on the part of regulators and service providers while carrying out their duties in the aviation industry in Nigeria so as to minimize crashes and serious incidents in the industry.
Speaking with journalists at AIB Safety House, Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos during a press briefing to release six reports of accidents and serious incidents, and safety recommendations; Commissioner of AIB, Engr. Akin Olateru who said, “Safety is of great importance to AIB and its investigations are geared towards having a safe airspace for air travellers globally noted that the reports are collectively a strong pillar of safety in the aviation industry and timely release is as critical as Accident Investigation itself”.
Noting that the purpose of accident investigation, however, is not to apportion blame or liability, but to prevent future recurrence of similar incidents, Olateru added that such preventive mandate, however, cannot be achieved without relevant stakeholders having timely access to accident investigation reports and draw safety lessons that can be applied to mitigate future reoccurrence of similar events.
Speaking on the reports of the six accidents and serious incidents which involved:
1. A Bristow Helicopters (Nigeria) Limited Sikorsky S76C++ Helicopter with nationality and registration marks 5N-BQJ, which occurred at 77NM offshore from Murtala Muhammed Airport on February 3, 2016.
- A Boeing MD-83 aircraft operated by Dana Airlines Ltd with Nationality and Registration Marks 5N-SRI, which occurred at Port Harcourt International Airport on 20th February, 2018.
- Serious Incident involving an Airbus A330-223 aircraft operated by Delta Air Lines Inc. with nationality and registration marks N858NW, which occurred after take-off from Runway 18R, Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos on 13th February 2018
- The Accident involving a Cessna 208B Caravan with Nationality and Registration Marks 5N-BMJ belonging to Ministry of Works and Transport, Taraba State Government, which occurred at Kwanan-Waya Village, Yola South Local Government Area, Adamawa State On 25th October 25 2012.
- the Accident involving a Diamond DA40D Aircraft operated by International Aviation College (IAC) Ilorin with Nationality and Registration Marks 5N-BRD, which occurred at Ilorin International Airport, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria on 25th November 25, 2013
- Report on the Serious Incident involving Gulfstream G200 Aircraft Operated by Nestoil PLC with Nationality and Registration Marks 5N-BTF, which occurred at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja on January 25, 2018.
A total of 24 Safety Recommendations were however generated and addressed to the regulatory body, affected airlines and airport operators and foreign agencies.
According to AIB, the Safety Recommendations are very important towards preventing re-occurrence of similar accidents or serious incidents and when adhered to can impact air safety positively, not only in Nigeria but also globally.
Giving an appraisal of AIB performances in the last 12 years of its establishment, Olateru said the Bureau has performed significantly better in the last two years than the previous ten years of its existence.
Below is a breakdown of the reports and safety recommendations AIB claimed it has turned out so far.
| 2007 – 2016 | 2017 – Date | Total | |
| FINAL REPORTS RELEASED | |||
| Occurrences | 19 | 26 | 45 |
| Incident (Safety Bulletin) | – | 1 | 1 |
| Total | 19 | 27 | 46 |
| Percentage of Final Reports | 41.3% | 58.7% | |
| SAFETY RECOMMENDATIONS ISSUED | |||
| Occurrences | 81 | 93 | 174 |
| Incident (Safety Bulletin) | – | 4 | 4 |
| Total | 81 | 97 | 178 |
| Percentage of Safety Recommendations Issued | 45.5% | 54.5% | |
“This administration has been able to release a total of 27 Final Reports since January 2017, which makes up 58.7% of AIB’s total of 46 Final Reports released since inception (2007).
The 97 safety recommendations issued since 2017 account for 54.5% of the total 178 issued since inception,” Olateru said.
