Bola Ahmed Tinubu Seizes Direct Oversight of Nigeria’s Accident Investigation Agency in Major Transport Safety Shake-Up

BY UCHECHI OKPORIE

Nigeria’s president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has approved a major governance change placing the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau directly under the Presidency.

The decision removes the agency from the supervision of the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development and positions it to report straight to the presidential office. The move is aimed at strengthening oversight and independence in accident investigations across Nigeria’s transport sector.

The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau is responsible for investigating accidents across aviation, rail, road, and marine transport systems and recommending safety improvements.

Officials say the restructuring follows arguments that placing the agency under a single ministry limited its ability to carry out investigations across multiple transport sectors. Supporters of the change also note that many countries run accident-investigation bodies that report directly to the highest level of government to ensure independence and credibility.

The shift is expected to strengthen transparency and coordination in Nigeria’s transport safety system while aligning the agency’s structure with international best practices.