The Federal Government’s plan to reposition the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) as an independent multimodal accident investigation agency received unanimous backing from top transportation, security, and emergency management agencies during a high-level stakeholder engagement convened in Abuja on Thursday.

The meeting, held at the Joint Intelligence Board Hall of the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), brought together senior officials from the aviation, maritime, rail, road transport, finance, intelligence, and emergency response sectors to advance implementation of the new reporting structure approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in March 2026.

Under the new framework, the NSIB will now report directly to the Presidency through ONSA, ending its previous supervisory alignment with the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development.

The engagement was chaired by the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, with the Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination and Head of the Central Results Delivery Coordination Unit, Hadiza Bala Usman, serving as co-chairperson.

Representatives at the meeting included officials from the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, Central Bank of Nigeria, Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, Federal Road Safety Corps, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Nigerian Railway Corporation, National Inland Waterways Authority, Nigerian Ports Authority, Nigeria Police Force, National Emergency Management Agency, Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, Armed Forces, Air Command, and other key agencies.

Stakeholders described the reform as a strategic move aimed at improving national coordination in transport accident investigations, emergency response management, infrastructure protection, and intelligence collaboration.

Director General of the NSIB, Captain Alex Badeh Jr., said the transition marks a significant institutional shift that would strengthen transparency, operational independence, and inter-agency collaboration in accident investigations.

“Our responsibility remains preventive, not punitive. The Bureau determines probable causes of accidents, identifies systemic safety gaps, and issues recommendations aimed at preventing future occurrences. We do not regulate, prosecute, or apportion blame,” Badeh said.

He explained that the new framework would improve occurrence notification timelines, evidence preservation, and coordinated responses in investigations involving multiple agencies or incidents with wider national security implications.

Badeh also noted that previous investigations conducted between late 2025 and early 2026 exposed operational difficulties, including delays in accessing critical data and jurisdictional overlaps among agencies.

Speaking at the engagement, Ribadu said the Presidency approved the reform to eliminate bureaucratic bottlenecks, preserve investigative neutrality, and establish a stronger national transportation safety structure.

According to him, the ONSA would provide institutional coordination and oversight support, especially in cases involving systemic failures or operational lapses linked to agencies under investigation.

He stressed that an independent reporting structure was necessary to maintain public trust, transparency, and professional credibility in accident investigations.

Ribadu further disclosed that the Federal Government had commenced steps to amend the NSIB Establishment Act 2022 to reflect the new governance arrangement, adding that the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation would set up a technical drafting committee involving relevant stakeholders.

In her remarks, Hadiza Bala Usman said President Tinubu’s decision aligns Nigeria’s transportation safety architecture with globally recognised models such as the United States National Transportation Safety Board, Canada’s Transportation Safety Board, and France’s Bureau d’Enquêtes et d’Analyses.

The meeting also resolved to develop inter-agency standard operating procedures within 30 days, establish memoranda of understanding among agencies within 60 days, and begin legislative amendments required for full implementation of the framework.

Participants unanimously endorsed the reform and pledged deeper collaboration through structured inter-agency partnerships and coordinated response mechanisms aimed at strengthening transportation safety and public accountability in Nigeria.

Nigeria is intensifying efforts to redefine its aviation future through the ongoing transformation of Murtala Muhammed International Airport into a modern smart airport designed to meet global standards in safety, efficiency and passenger experience.

The large-scale remodelling of the country’s busiest international gateway represents the most extensive overhaul of the facility in nearly five decades and is expected to reposition Nigeria more competitively within Africa’s aviation sector.

The project includes the installation of biometric processing systems, electronic gates, advanced baggage handling technology, upgraded screening systems, expanded access roads and modern surveillance infrastructure.

According to FAAN Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, the transformation reflects a broader national strategy to modernise the aviation ecosystem in line with international best practices and growing global demand for digitally enabled airports.

“What is happening at MMIA goes far beyond renovation. It is a national statement. It is Nigeria announcing to the world that its aviation future will no longer be defined by ageing infrastructure, but by smart systems, operational efficiency, safety, technology and a renewed passenger experience,” Agbebire stated.

The authority explained that despite the scale of reconstruction, airport operations have continued through temporary operational arrangements carefully designed to minimise disruptions for passengers and airlines.

Agbebire added that the remodelling would significantly improve passenger flow, operational turnaround time, passenger comfort and airport security coordination upon completion.

The project is also expected to strengthen tourism, trade, cargo movement, conference tourism and foreign direct investment through improved aviation infrastructure and operational reliability.

“A modern airport does more than process passengers. It influences tourism, trade, cargo movement, foreign direct investment, airline route expansion and regional integration,” Agbebire noted.

Officials further stressed that the ongoing reforms under the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development and FAAN management are aimed at improving infrastructure, operational reliability and service delivery across Nigeria’s airports.

Industry stakeholders expressed confidence that the upgraded MMIA would enhance Nigeria’s image as a leading aviation and business destination while improving travel experience for millions of passengers annually.

As construction advances toward completion, aviation authorities believe the transformed MMIA will emerge as a flagship gateway reflecting innovation, resilience, efficiency and global relevance.

Shareholders of Nigerian Aviation Handling Company have urged the company to bid for the Federal Government’s planned airport concessions after the aviation handling giant posted a strong N65.82 billion revenue for the 2025 financial year.

The shareholders made the call at the company’s 45th Annual General Meeting in Lagos, where they commended NAHCO’s impressive financial growth, rising market value and expanding operations across the aviation sector.

President of the Association for the Advancement of Rights of Nigerian Shareholders, Dr. Farouk Umar, said the company now possesses the financial strength and operational capacity to manage airport terminals under the Federal Government’s proposed privatization programme.

According to him, NAHCO’s consistent growth and expanding international operations position it as a strong contender for airport terminal management under the planned Public-Private Partnership arrangement.

He noted that the company’s share price rose from about N80 to over N200 within one year, while new businesses secured from Fly Gabon, Saudi and Qatar operations would further strengthen revenue and profitability.

The Federal Government plans to privatise and concession five major international airport terminals through a Public-Private Partnership model to be supervised by the Bureau of Public Enterprises and the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development.

Speaking at the AGM, Chairman of NAHCO Group, Dr. Seinde Oladapo Fadeni, said the company achieved significant growth across major performance indicators in 2025 through operational efficiency and disciplined cost management.

Fadeni said the board recommended a dividend payment of N6.25 alongside a bonus issue of one share for every seven shares held for the 2025 financial year.

He added that despite the impact of inflation and rising fuel prices on operations, the company remained committed to sustaining growth and expanding into new business opportunities.

Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NAHCO, Mr. Olumuyiwa Olumekun, said the company had continued to strengthen its position as West Africa’s largest aviation services and logistics group.

According to him, NAHCO recorded a 188 per cent year-on-year stock growth with market capitalization exceeding N200 billion.

Olumekun also disclosed that the company had launched a five-year strategic diversification plan aimed at increasing revenue beyond N300 billion through new ventures and collaborations.

He further revealed that NAHCO acquired over 271 new ground support equipment units within the last three years as part of efforts to modernize operations with fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly assets.

Financial figures presented at the AGM showed that the company’s revenue increased by 22.93 per cent from N53.54 billion in 2024 to N65.82 billion in 2025.

Profit before tax rose by 29.83 per cent from N18.70 billion to N24.28 billion, while profit after tax grew by 36.02 per cent from N12.87 billion in 2024 to N17.5 billion in 2025.

Earnings per share also increased by 36.14 per cent from N6.60 in 2024 to N8.99 in 2025.

Another shareholder, Mr. Patrick Ajudua, praised the company’s management for delivering improved returns and sustaining strong growth despite economic challenges.

During the meeting, shareholders approved the appointment of PwC as the company’s external auditor in place of EY, while Abdulhamid Aliyu, Reverend Victor Abimbola Olaiya and Mrs. Adebisi Oluwayemisi Bakare were re-elected as non-executive directors.