President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the relocation of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) from the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development to report directly to the Presidency. The decision was approved on March 5, 2026, and communicated to Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo for implementation on March 11, 2026.
The presidential approval effectively ends months of disagreements over where the bureau should be domiciled for optimal performance. While stakeholders and lawmakers had argued that the bureau should be moved out of the aviation ministry to ensure operational independence, Keyamo had insisted that it should remain under the ministry.
The move follows a November 3, 2025 letter from Presidential Adviser Hadiza Usman, who recommended the relocation citing global best practices. She referenced accident investigation bodies like the US National Transportation Safety Board, which reports directly to the highest level of government.
The directive also mandates the Office of the Attorney General to initiate amendments to the NSIB Establishment Act 2022 to reflect the new reporting structure and submit the proposed changes to the National Assembly. The Bureau was created under Act No. 35 of 2022, replacing the former Accident Investigation Bureau and expanding its responsibilities beyond aviation to include marine, rail and other transport systems.
