Alex Badeh, director-general (DG) of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), says flight risk assessment should have shown a higher risk in the crash that killed Herbert Wigwe, former group chief executive officer (GCEO) of Access Holdings. This statement highlights the preliminary findings of the NSIB regarding the tragic helicopter accident.
On February 9, 2024, Wigwe was in the chopper with registration N130CZ alongside his wife, Doreen; their first son, Chizi; and Abimbola Ogunbanjo, the former group chairman of Nigerian Exchange Group Plc (NGX Group). This details the individuals who tragically lost their lives in the helicopter crash.
The crash claimed the lives of all six passengers on board. The NSIB’s investigation aims to determine the exact causes and contributing factors of this devastating incident.
On May 6, the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) concluded its investigation into the helicopter crash. The involvement of the NTSB underscores the international interest and the need for a thorough understanding of the accident.
In a statement on Wednesday, issued by Bimbo Oladeji, NSIB’s director of public affairs and family assistance, Badeh said the NTSB identified spatial disorientation as the probable cause, alongside deficiencies in the company’s oversight and safety management processes. This reveals the initial findings of the NTSB’s investigation into the likely reasons for the crash.
“There were systemic issues, and the flight risk assessment should have indicated a higher risk. While it’s easy to blame the pilot, there is a system behind the pilot that should have mitigated these risks,” Badeh said. This quote from the NSIB director-general points towards potential organizational and procedural failures beyond pilot error.
Furthermore, he noted that the NSIB, established under the 2022 Act, is now the sole agency for investigating accidents in air, rail, road, and maritime transport in Nigeria. This clarifies the NSIB’s expanded role and responsibilities in transportation safety investigations within Nigeria.
“We are developing necessary frameworks, including maritime investigation regulations, training manuals, investigation procedure policies, and manuals. The maritime and rail frameworks are complete, and we are engaging stakeholders for their buy-in,” Badeh said. This outlines the NSIB’s ongoing efforts to strengthen safety regulations and investigation processes across various transportation sectors in Nigeria.
The DG said NSIB is committed to promoting transport safety and conducting objective, comprehensive, and accurate investigations into transport accidents and incidents in Nigeria. This reaffirms the NSIB’s dedication to its core mission of ensuring safety and accountability in Nigeria’s transportation systems.
