The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has reassured Nigerians about the safety of domestic air travel, despite a rise in global aviation incidents and accidents. Captain Alex Badeh Jr., Director General of NSIB, emphasized that Nigeria’s airspace remains secure.
Backed by recent statistics, Captain Badeh highlighted that in the past week alone, Nigerian airlines such as Air Peace, Ibom Air, Aero Contractors, and Arik had safely transported over 63,000 passengers without any incidents.
This reassurance comes amid recent global tragedies, including a mid-air collision over the Potomac River near Washington that killed 67 people last Wednesday. In December, a Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 crashed at Muan International Airport in South Korea, resulting in 175 fatalities. Additionally, last Tuesday, a Max Air aircraft sustained nose-wheel damage at Mallam Aminu International Airport in Kano, Nigeria.
However, Captain Badeh sought to calm public concern, stating that, aside from a helicopter crash in Bonny last year, Nigeria has not experienced any fatal aviation accidents recently. Speaking on Channels TV’s Morning Brief, he affirmed: “I can confidently say our airspace is safe. While the increase in global incidents is concerning, there has been no significant loss of life here in Nigeria, aside from the helicopter crash in Bonny.”
He continued: “While we aim for zero fatalities and prioritize safety, occasional incidents are inevitable. Aviation, both in Nigeria and globally, is inherently safe. The statistics speak for themselves. The number of passengers flying and planes in the air is far greater than the number of accidents or fatalities. When compared to other modes of transport, aviation remains the safest option.”
Captain Badeh also compared air travel to rail transport in Nigeria: “Look at how many people trains carry and their accident rates, and then consider aviation, where planes typically seat around 80 passengers. For instance, in the past week, Air Peace flew 38,983 passengers, Ibom Air carried 10,200, Aero had 7,300, and Arik flew 6,600. The scale of operations shows the relative safety of the aviation industry.”
