- The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau has opened a new office in Lagos, two years after its previous headquarters was demolished
- Minister Festus Keyamo expressed disappointment over the demolition, praising NSIB’s efforts in establishing a new regional office for improved service
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has secured a new office in Lagos, two years after the former administration demolished its previous office. The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, expressed disappointment over the demolition by his predecessor, Senator Hadi Sirika, describing it as unnecessary.
The federal government demolished the NSIB’s N5 billion building, which was the bureau’s headquarters before relocating to Abuja. Speaking at the unveiling of the new NSIB office in Lagos on Friday, Keyamo highlighted the unnecessary nature of the demolition and praised the efforts of the Bureau’s Director General, Alex Badeh (Jr), in establishing a new regional office.
Keyamo stated, “Our task here is very simple, and it is to commission the office. When I came to the office, I was quite sad that a whole functional complex that the NSIB had in Lagos was demolished for no reason. I was very sad about that incident. But I want to thank the Director General of the NSIB for making this happen.”
Badeh explained that the demolition of the NSIB’s previous office left the bureau without a physical presence in Lagos, severely impacting its ability to serve the transportation sector effectively. Due to the lack of facilities, the bureau struggled with productivity and service delivery during the period without an office.
Badeh said, “The unfortunate demolition of our previous office under the past administration left us without a physical presence in this critical location, hindering our ability to serve the transportation sector effectively. During this hiatus, our dedicated team members were left without the means to carry out their vital work, resulting in a struggle for productivity and a gap in our service delivery.”
He further explained that upon his appointment as Director General in December 2023, he encountered numerous unfinished tasks and low employee morale. Despite limited government funding and bureaucratic inefficiencies, Badeh and his team approached their responsibilities with determination and a positive attitude.
Badeh expressed his gratitude to Keyamo: “I must express my deepest gratitude to the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo SAN, whose unwavering commitment and tireless efforts have led us here today. When I approached the Honourable Minister and presented this project to him, he promptly facilitated the necessary funding from the ministry’s operating budget, making the vision of this new office a reality. His leadership and vision have been instrumental in enhancing our capabilities and ensuring the safety and security of our skies.”