The Commissioner/CEO of the Accident Investigation Bureau Nigeria (AIB-N), Engr. Akin Olateru, has said the implementation of its safety recommendations from air accidents and serious air incidences are deepening safer skies in Nigeria.
Speaking in Abuja at the Nigerian Aviation Workshop Symposium (NAWS) 2020, he also said partnerships with the aviation regulator, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and other local and international agencies are leading to better safety compliance in Nigeria in line with ICAO safety recommendations.
The event was organised by International Gazelle Limited and AIB-N. The agency’s head noted that AIB-N and partners are implementing Safety Management System (SMS) to further enhance aviation safety.
SMS refers to a set of processes and tools that are adopted to formally manage a structured safety programme.
Olateru said this was the reason for the symposium’s theme, ‘A Safety Management System Approach to Responses to Aviation Accidents and Incidents within Nigerian Airspace’.
Having systems in place to mitigate risks and promote safety is equally important, Olateru said. He noted that NAWS 2020 aimed to provide the Nigerian aviation industry workforce and stakeholders with a systematic approach compliant with the aviation regulations and laws while responding to aviation accidents and incidents as well as disaster recovery.
Declaring the conference open, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Aviation, Engr. Hassan Musa, who was represented by Capt. Talba Alkali, the Director of Safety and Technical Services, affirmed that AIB’s safety recommendations have led to safer aviation.
“Effective implementation of SMS by the service providers will definitely showcase the safety risks associated with their operations and with the right resources available, implement appropriate mitigating actions to address these safety risks and thereby ensure safe aircraft operations,” he said.
