NSIB, NCAA to strengthen support for air crash victims’ families

The Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) are strengthening their collaboration to improve support for families affected by aircraft accidents. This initiative is part of Nigeria's effort to align its emergency response framework with international aviation standards.

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Family Assistance is an essential component of transportation safety management and emergency response. The programme is designed to provide coordinated institutional support that preserves the dignity of victims, ensures families receive timely and accurate information, facilitates access to essential services and promotes compassionate engagement throughout the post-occurrence process.

Discussions between the National Family Assistance Committee, coordinated by the NSIB, and NCAA officials in Abuja focused on enhancing institutional coordination, building capacity, and implementing effective Family Assistance Programmes within the country's aviation sector. The NSIB delegation was led by Adebayo-Arowojobe, while the NCAA team was headed by Michael Achimugu, Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection.

Adebayo-Arowojobe explained that the National Family Assistance Coordination Committee operates across various transport sectors, including aviation. The engagement with the NCAA specifically aimed to bolster cooperation on providing assistance to victims of aviation disasters and their families. Key discussion points included the objectives of the Family Assistance Programme, International Civil Aviation Organization policies, the mandate of the coordination committee, the NSIB's statutory role, the NCAA's complementary function, and potential areas for future collaboration.

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Effective implementation requires sustained collaboration among transportation agencies and adherence to international best practices.

Achimugu, representing the NCAA, welcomed the initiative and affirmed the authority's readiness to work closely with the NSIB. He emphasized the critical need for continuous training and retraining of personnel to ensure agencies are prepared to offer professional and coordinated support during emergencies. Both agencies identified sustained collaboration and adherence to international best practices as essential for the effective implementation of family assistance measures.

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continuous training and retraining of personnel as a key requirement for successful implementation, noting that capacity development was necessary to ensure agencies remain prepared to provide professional and coordinated support whenever the need arises.