Keyamo Calls for Safer, Unified Transport Network

Advertisement

BY ANTHONY OMOH

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo SAN, has called for an end to siloed operations across Nigeria’s transport modes, emphasising the urgent need for strengthening transport safety standards through unified national collaboration. He made the call at the NSIB Multimodal Transportation Stakeholders Workshop held at the Los Angeles Event Centre, Abuja.

Themed “Strengthening Transport Safety Standards Through Collaboration”, the event brought together leaders from aviation, rail, road, and maritime sectors. The goal was to promote a unified national approach to transport safety and accident prevention.

According to the Minister, Nigeria’s vast air, land, and sea networks are vital for economic activities and daily life. However, he warned that this connectivity comes with a major responsibility: keeping all passengers, crew, and cargo safe.

“Transport accidents claim lives, shatter families, and destroy public confidence. This workshop is not just timely—it is essential,” he said.

While commending the Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) for expanding its mandate beyond aviation, Keyamo emphasised the need for action on recommendations. Investigations alone, he noted, cannot prevent future tragedies.

“Investigations don’t save lives. Implementing the lessons does. We must act before mistakes repeat,” he stressed.

He highlighted the NSIB Act 2022, which empowered the Bureau to also handle rail, road, and maritime investigations. This legal reform, he said, has opened the door for meaningful intermodal collaboration.

“This is the first real step towards a unified safety system. No more isolated responses,” he noted.

Keyamo insisted that strengthening transport safety standards must go beyond policy documents. Agencies must translate findings into clear regulations and measurable improvements.

The Minister reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to building resilient transport systems. He promised improved funding for NSIB, enhanced capacity building, and better alignment of safety policies with global best practices.

“We want a transport system where every journey is safe, every family reunited, and every sector thrives,” he stated.

To achieve this, Keyamo advocated for joint safety initiatives and cross-agency training. He also urged investments in modern technologies such as data retrieval tools and accident reconstruction simulators.

“We must support the NSIB with tools, talent, and technology. Without this, we’ll remain reactive, not proactive,” he warned.

Keyamo also promoted a non-punitive, safety-first reporting culture. He referenced the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) as a global model, noting its focus on learning rather than punishment.

“Safety systems should not intimidate. They should encourage openness and trust,” he told participants.

He urged regulators to remove barriers that discourage reporting. Instead, systems must make it easy for staff, operators, and the public to share safety data.

Looking ahead, the Minister urged attendees to follow through on the workshop’s resolutions. He stressed that Nigeria cannot afford to treat safety as an afterthought.

“This shouldn’t end with talk. Let’s form joint teams, fund safety programmes, and take responsibility together,” he declared.

He called for harmonised training standards across agencies and a shared national database for accident trends and risk assessment.

“Silos must end. Collaboration is not an option—it’s a national safety obligation,” he said.

The NSIB Multimodal Transportation Stakeholders Workshop attracted senior leaders from all major transport agencies in Nigeria. International safety experts and observers were also present.

The initiative forms part of NSIB’s ongoing drive to ensure all transport operators align with modern safety principles. With stronger cooperation, stakeholders believe Nigeria can drastically reduce incidents across all sectors.

By advancing the goal of strengthening transport safety standards, the workshop sets a foundation for a safer, more integrated future.