By Daniel Oluwatobiloba Popoola
The Director-General of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), Alex Badeh Jr., has disclosed that the bureau has been repositioned to report to the Presidency through the Office of the National Security Adviser, ending months of uncertainty over its reporting line.
Badeh made this known during a virtual media briefing held over the weekend, on Saturday, 15 August, 2026, explaining that the change was not merely an administrative directive but was being backed by legislation to give the bureau greater institutional independence.
His clarification followed a longstanding dispute over the NSIB’s reporting structure, after the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development had earlier resisted the bureau’s proposed transfer to the Presidency.
According to Badeh, President Bola Tinubu had directed the Attorney-General of the Federation to commence the process of establishing a new legal framework for the bureau and forward the proposed establishment Act to the National Assembly, explaining that memos were expected before the Federal Executive Council within the week and that the bureau now reports to the Presidency through the Office of the National Security Adviser.
His comments provided a clearer picture of government’s intention to place the accident investigation body outside the direct control of the aviation ministry, particularly as its responsibilities have expanded beyond the aviation sector.
The NSIB boss, however, raised concerns over moves to reduce the bureau’s share of the five per cent Ticket Sales Charge and Cargo Sales Charge, warning that such a decision could have consequences for the country’s safety investigation system.
He explained that under the existing revenue-sharing arrangement provided by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Act 2022, the five per cent charge collected by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) is distributed among five aviation agencies, with the NCAA receiving 56 per cent, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) getting 22 per cent, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency receiving nine per cent, the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology getting seven per cent, and the NSIB receiving six per cent, the smallest share among the agencies.
He disclosed that a proposal before the National Assembly seeks to alter the formula, including reducing the NCAA’s share from 56 per cent to 40 per cent and increasing NAMA’s allocation from 22 per cent to 40 per cent, a proposal that has triggered debate among aviation stakeholders, agencies, unions and industry experts.
Badeh argued that the NSIB, already receiving the smallest allocation, could not afford another reduction, especially given the cost of investigating increasingly complex accidents, stressing that reducing any agency’s collection from the charge was not the solution to challenges currently facing the sector.
He explained that the bureau required sustained funding for the deployment of investigators, acquisition and maintenance of specialised equipment, laboratory facilities, training and participation in complex accident investigations.
Beyond aviation, the Director-General disclosed that the bureau had yet to receive some statutory revenues due to it from other transport agencies, specifically citing the three per cent of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency’s (NIMASA) earnings that the NSIB is entitled to under the law.
He explained that despite the bureau having commenced safety investigation services for maritime operators, the statutory funds had not been remitted, stressing that the funding constraints would not hinder the bureau from carrying out its responsibilities.
Badeh disclosed that the NSIB was preparing to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with NIMASA to establish a clearer framework for cooperation between both agencies.
He also disclosed that the Nigerian Railway Corporation was yet to remit statutory charges due to the bureau, despite the NSIB being entitled to six per cent of the corporation’s revenue under the law, while expressing optimism that the bureau’s repositioning under the Presidency would improve compliance.
He cited the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) as an example of compliance, explaining that FAAN had been remitting five per cent of its Passenger Service Charge to the NSIB as required by law.
Badeh explained that the funding question had become more urgent because the NSIB was no longer solely an aviation accident investigation body, noting that the agency’s mandate now extends to safety investigations across different modes of transportation, meaning its financial and technical requirements have grown alongside its responsibilities.
He argued that the country could not expect the bureau to investigate accidents effectively across aviation, maritime and rail transportation while simultaneously weakening its funding base, stressing that the expanded mandate required adequate resources to properly investigate accidents, identify what went wrong and prevent recurrence.
Meanwhile, Badeh disclosed that the NSIB had released nine interim, preliminary and final accident and incident investigation reports so far this year, adding that more reports were expected before the end of 2026.
He stressed that the purpose of an accident investigation was not to find someone to blame but to understand what happened and prevent a repeat, explaining that the primary objective remains safety, identifying deficiencies in the system and making recommendations rather than apportioning blame.
