House of Reps assures AIB on relocation of moribund Metallurgical Laboratory
Photo Caption:
From left Hon Mohammed Pali, Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Aviation; Eng Akin Olateru, Commissioner/CEO, Accident Investigation Bureau; Hon Nnolim Nnaji, Chairman, House Committee on Aviation; Hon Kasimu Bello-Maigari and Hon Umar Seriki, members of the committee during the House Committee on Aviation oversight visit to Accident Investigation Bureau, Murtala Mohammed Airport, Ikeja on Friday
The Chairman of House of Representatives Committee on Aviation, Honourable Nnolim Nnaji has assured the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB), Nigeria, that the committee would ensure the relocation of the moribund Metallurgical Science Laboratory
Speaking during their oversight visit to AIB shortly after the Commissioner, Engr. Akin Olateru briefed the Committee at the agency’s headquarters at the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), Lagos, Hon. Nnaji lauded the AIB boss for his achievements within three years.
Nnaji stated that: “The Committee will ensure it relocate the lab from its present location to another location. We will continuously partner with AIB on this issue.”
On the Multi-Modal bill that is before the National Assembly, the Committee Chairman stated that the committee would facilitate the passage of the bill that would give AIB the power to investigate Marine and rail accidents and incidents.
On funding for th AIB, Nnaji said that the issue of inadequate funding was not restricted to AIB, adding that agencies outside the aviation industry are experiencing the same thing but that the committee would look into the matter.
“Funding is generally a problem because agencies outside the aviation industry also have funding problem, h said.”
Nnaji added that the AIB, had done well for establishing data retrieval system and for assisting other countries to build capacity.
He commended AIB not only for its vision, but for also helping Gambia, to set up her own accident investigation body.
Earlier, the AIB Commissioner, Engr. Akin Olateru said that other countries have been approaching AIB, Nigeria to assist them in accident investigation, adding that the present AIB management led by him reviewed of AIB Manual.
Olateru stated that before he was appointed the morale of the staff was low and that there was also no Condition of Service (CoS) for the agency but when he came he addressed these issues.
He told the visiting committee that the plan of the agency for the future is to establish Emergency Satellite Mobile Office, pursue the Multi- Modal System Accident Investigation bill, which according to him is already before the National Assembly that would give AIB the powers to carry out investigation on air, rail and marine transport.
He also informed the committee that the agency is investing on drones to take pictures at crash site and also carry out mapping of the site to make accident and incident investigation seamless in the event of any mishap.
On the challenges facing the agency, Olateru, stated that AIB is the only government agency that don’t generate anything on its own.
He appealed to the committee to look into the funding issue to further assist AIB to grow.
On Metallurgical Science Laboratory, he said, the facility was not functioning and that efforts have been made to partner with universities and other institutions to determine ways of reactivating it.
Olateru reeled out the agency’s other achievements since he was appointed in 2017 as the re-engineering of the Flight Safety Laboratory in Abuja which according to him is among the best in the world and first in Africa.
Olateru stated that the Bureau has reviewed it manuals- Investigation Policy & Procedures Manual (IPPM), Investigation Training Manual, review of the Bureaus Regulations conditions of service from 2017 till date,
He disclosed that 27 final accident reports were released (58.7percent of total reports released) and 97 safety recommendations issued (54.5percent of total Safety Recommendations) .
He said the AIB has completed and equipping of Kano and Enugu regional offices, renovated Abuja office, reactivated its Flight Safety Laboratory, established Command and Control Center.
He listed the other achievements to include: Introduction of Mobile App for easier reporting, document management solutions (Oracle and Share Point), human capacity development, collaboration & cooperation agreements.
Olateru said AIB in the nearest future will also have emergency mobile satellite office, new corporate office, training school an handheld investigation equipment among others.
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