The safety of the Nigerian air space has received a boost as the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) and the Nigerian airspace management agency ( NAMA) in line with their inter agency collaboration agenda Tuesday in Abuja entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) agreement and renewed partnership to promote air safety.
The main purpose of the agreement was to consolidate the existing relationship between NSIB and NAMA on the exchange of information, and data sharing during occurrences, among others, that can help in the quality and timeliness of investigation of air mishaps in accordance with the International Civil Aviation Organisation ICAO Annex 13 and 19 of the 1994 Chicago convention on International Civil Aviation .
Also included in the MoU was the flexibility in all transactions with the mutual agreement of both agencies, upholding the values of cooperation, honesty, mutual respect, openness and professionalism .
NSIB and NAMA while signing the deal noted that though the MoU is not legally binding, but the two agencies however agreed to perform their respective functions in a manner consistent with the values and principles of the agreement.
A statement signed by Tunji Oketunbi disclosed that the signing of the agreement, took place at the NSIB Abuja headquarters and had the Bureau Director General, Engr. Akin Olateru signed on behalf of NSIB, while NAMA Managing Director/ CEO Engr. Odunowo Tayib Mohammed, put pen on paper for his Agency.
The NSIB recently signed a MoU with Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) on cooperation during emergencies even as the agency has signed similar agreements with various agencies and institutions within and outside the country.
Said Olateru, “Collaboration remains the centre point of our drive towards enthroning safety in the aviation industry. We remain committed to promoting safety in the aviation industry to the point of attaining and maintaining zero accident.”
He added: ”We, however, cannot do it alone. That is why we have chosen the path of collaboration with agencies and institutions with similar objectives.”
He commended NAMA management for rising to the occasion by signing the agreement.
