Tinubu Overrules Keyamo, Moves NSIB Directly to Presidency

By Tgnews Reporter

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the relocation of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) from the supervision of the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development to direct reporting under the Presidency.

The presidential directive, conveyed via a State House correspondence dated March 5, 2026, and transmitted to the Minister of Aviation for immediate implementation on March 11, addresses a longstanding structural inconsistency in the agency’s governance.

The NSIB, established under Act No. 35 of 2022 to replace the former Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB), holds a multimodal mandate to probe incidents in aviation, marine, rail, and tracked vehicle systems making it Nigeria’s sole authority for cross-sector transport safety probes.

Previously housed under the Aviation Ministry, the bureau’s placement created practical challenges.

As an investigative body focused solely on determining causes and issuing preventive recommendations without regulatory or sanctioning powers it required institutional separation from sector-specific oversight to maintain neutrality and public trust.

The aviation ministry’s primary focus on one mode limited its ability to supervise investigations involving rail derailments, maritime incidents, or road transport collisions involving pipelines and vehicles.

The approval aligns Nigeria’s framework with global best practices, such as the United States’ National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), an independent federal agency that investigates accidents across multiple transport modes.

International studies highlight that structurally independent investigative bodies deliver more objective findings, free from sectoral influence or regulatory pressures, leading to stronger systemic safety improvements.

This is particularly vital as Nigeria expands its transport infrastructure boasting growing aviation passenger volumes, rail modernization, active maritime trade, and extensive road networks where incidents often expose cross-cutting risks.

The reform also directs the Attorney-General of the Federation to propose amendments to the NSIB Establishment Act 2022, reflecting the change, and forward them to the National Assembly for legislative action.

Experts view the decision as a step toward bolstering public confidence in accident probes, especially during high-profile incidents, by prioritizing fact-based prevention over institutional protection.

It further elevates Nigeria’s profile among international aviation and transport safety partners, who prioritize independent investigation as a cornerstone of modern oversight.

Within Africa, where many nations still embed such bodies in sector ministries, Nigeria’s shift could influence regional discussions on transport safety governance.

This development comes amid ongoing expansions in national transport networks and underscores the president’s focus on institutional efficiency and credible safety mechanisms.