6% Ticket Charge Cut Will Affect NSIB Operations, Says NSIB DG

Nigeria's Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) faces potential operational challenges due to a proposed cut in the Ticket Sales Charge (TSC), according to its Director General, Captain Alex Badeh Jr.

Badeh warned that reducing the TSC from six percent to four percent could impact the agency's capacity to fulfill its expanding transport safety investigation mandate. He highlighted that the NSIB's responsibilities have grown significantly beyond aviation accidents to include rail and maritime sectors, necessitating greater funding, specialized equipment, and technical expertise.

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The investigations cover some of the country’s recent significant transport incidents, including the Arik Air B737-700 engine anomaly; Rigasa-Idu passenger train incident; MV Maersk Valparaiso/MT Lady Martina collision; Warri-Itakpe train derailment; VMO Aero roadway landing near Asaba; Benue River boat accident; and the Enugu Air E170 runway excursion at Benin.

The proposed funding adjustment is a concern given the bureau's increasing statutory duties. This comes amid ongoing discussions about how the five percent TSC and Cargo Sales Charge (CSC) collected within the aviation sector are distributed among relevant agencies.

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The investigations are examining factors including aircraft operations, technical conditions, crew actions, airport infrastructure and environmental circumstances. The Bureau is also investigating the Rigasa-Idu passenger train incident and Warri-Itakpe train derailment as part of its expanding rail safety mandate.

Despite funding concerns, the NSIB has continued to bolster its multimodal safety investigation capabilities. Currently, seven major accident and serious incident investigations are underway across aviation, rail, and maritime transportation. These include incidents such as an Arik Air engine anomaly, a Rigasa-Idu passenger train incident, a collision involving MV Maersk Valparaiso/MT Lady Martina, a Warri-Itakpe train derailment, a roadway landing near Asaba, a Benue River boat accident, and an Enugu Air runway excursion.

The bureau's investigations aim to independently determine the causes of these incidents, identify contributing factors, and develop safety recommendations to prevent future occurrences. In the maritime sector, the Benue River boat accident in June 2026, which claimed 11 lives, prompted an immediate NSIB investigation and safety assessment.

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On the maritime side, investigations are ongoing into the MV Maersk Valparaiso/MT Lady Martina collision and the Benue River boat accident. The Benue River accident, which occurred in June 2026 at Wadata and claimed 11 lives, prompted the immediate deployment of an NSIB investigation team, alongside an on-the-spot safety assessment and activation of family assistance protocols.