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.

The Lagos State Government has announced a major milestone in the state’s transportation revolution, revealing that the Lagos Rail Mass Transit Blue Line moved about 3.5 million passengers in 2025, with daily ridership now climbing to 15,000 commuters.

The achievement underscores the growing acceptance of rail transportation in Lagos as the state intensifies efforts to build a modern, integrated, and sustainable transport network across Africa’s most populous city.

Speaking during the 2026 Ministerial Press Briefing marking the third year of Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu’s second term, the Honourable Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, disclosed that operations on the Blue Line have expanded significantly within one year.

According to the Commissioner, daily train trips on the corridor increased steadily from 57 trips to 72 trips before reaching the current 90 daily trips, reflecting increasing public confidence in the rail system.

The state government also confirmed that expansion works on Blue Line Phase II are progressing across multiple sections, including track laying, station construction, power installations, and other supporting rail infrastructure.

Major infrastructure milestones have already been completed on critical components such as the Mazamaza and LASU bridges, while construction continues at stations located in Festac, LASU, and Volkswagen.

Beyond the Blue Line, the government said it is accelerating development across other strategic rail corridors aimed at reducing travel time, improving connectivity, and easing pressure on Lagos roads.

The report revealed that the first phase of the 37-kilometre LRMT Red Line corridor currently operates between Agbado and Oyingbo using shared tracks with the Nigerian Railway Corporation.

To further strengthen operations on the Red Line, the state recently received a new set of 24-car trains expected to improve passenger capacity and reduce commuter waiting time.

The Ministry also disclosed that feasibility studies are underway for Phase II of the Red Line from Oyingbo to National Theatre to create direct integration with the Blue Line network.

On the proposed Green Line corridor, the government said the 68-kilometre rail route will connect Marina to Lekki Free Trade Zone through Victoria Island, Lekki, Ajah, and Sangotedo with about 17 stations planned along the axis.

According to the Ministry, the Green Line is projected to transport about 35,000 passengers per hour upon completion, while a Memorandum of Understanding has already been signed with China Harbour Engineering Company for the project.

Funding approval for Phase I of the Green Line has also been granted by the Federal Executive Council.

Osiyemi noted that the rail projects remain central to the Sanwo-Olu administration’s THEMES+ Agenda aimed at delivering a reliable multimodal transport system capable of transforming mobility, economic productivity, and urban living across Lagos.

The 2026 Hajj airlift operations officially began in Lagos on Monday, May 4, 2026, with a seamless inaugural flight from the Pilgrims and Cargo Terminal of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, marking a strong and orderly start to this year’s pilgrimage exercise.

The first flight, operated by Air Peace, departed at approximately 1:41 a.m., transporting 315 pilgrims from Oyo State to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in what officials described as a smooth and hitch-free operation.

The successful take-off is being viewed as a reflection of effective coordination among aviation authorities, security agencies, airline operators, and Hajj management institutions involved in the exercise.

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), working in collaboration with state Muslim pilgrims’ welfare boards and designated carriers, is overseeing the nationwide airlift programme, which will run over the coming weeks.

Thousands of Nigerian pilgrims are expected to be transported to Makkah and Madinah.

Authorities say enhanced operational planning, improved passenger facilitation systems, and strengthened health and safety protocols have been put in place to ensure efficiency and reduce delays throughout the exercise.

Pilgrims have also been advised to strictly adhere to travel guidelines, complete all required documentation, and comply with baggage regulations to ensure a smooth departure process.

The successful launch of the Lagos flight sets a positive operational tone for the 2026 Hajj airlift, reinforcing confidence in Nigeria’s aviation coordination capacity and inter-agency preparedness for large-scale international religious travel.