ACCIDENT Investigation Bureau, Nigeria (AIB-N) is seeking collaboration with the Nigeria Air Force (NAF) to aid in securing material evidence around aircraft crash sites from being tampered with during air mishaps.
This is just as the investigative body says it has commenced the relocation of its corporate headquarters to Abuja from Lagos in line with the Ministerial directive of May 4th 2920 that ordered all aviation agencies to relocate their corporate headquarters to Abuja.
Commissioner/CEO of the Bureau, Engr. Akin Olateru discussed the collaboration during a courtesy visit by the Abuja International Airport Commandant, Group Capt NS Hassan
at the Bureau’s headquarter in Abuja earlier this week.
Olateru expressed optimism in the ability of the Nigeria Air Force to work in collaboration with the Bureau for mutual support and benefits in the area of common interests.
He added that tampering with material evidence inhibits accuracy of the investigation.
The Commissioner also called on the Nigeria Air force for the patronage of the Agency’s Flight Safety Laboratory, equipped with the state of the art facilities and well trained personnel for effective download of most Cockpit Voice Recorders (CVR) and Flight Data Recorders (FDR) found on modern aircraft.
Olateru further stressed that the laboratory allowed the Bureau cheaper and faster conduct of accident investigation of aircraft crash, other than taking the CVR and FDR abroad for download.
Speaking, Group Capt NS Hassan, thanked the Commissioner and his top management team for having him in his office.
He assured the Agency of the Nigeria Air Force’s support and collaboration in areas of common interests and mutual benefits in the onerous task of ensuring aviation safety and security when the need arises.
On the relocation directive, Olateru the commissioner and other strategic officers had since been operating from Abuja.
This is to ensure an efficient and effective coordination and enhanced service delivery between the Federal Ministry of Aviation and its agencies.
Further to the directive given by the Federal Ministry of Aviation, Accident Investigation Bureau, Nigeria has strictly adhered to this directive by relocating its Head office to its office in Abuja, with the Commissioner/CEO and other essential staff reporting for duty at the Headquarters Office in Abuja.
According to the Bureau, this is an ongoing process, which will take a while for other essential staff to relocate to the Head Office considering the lockdown and funding to aid the relocation.
The Bureau has also effected these changes on all its social media platforms and other formal means of communications.
Other affected agencies included the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) and Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
The other two agencies were already outside Lagos; Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET) has always been in Abuja, while the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), has its head office in Zaria, Kaduna State.
