air safety
UNSPLASH

The air accident investigation bodies of Nigeria and Saudi Arabia have signed a technical cooperation agreement to exchange information and expertise on air accident investigations, as well as work towards common goals to improve air safety in both countries.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed in Abuja during the ongoing Fourteenth International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Air Services Negotiation Event (ICAN 2022).

The Director General of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), Akin Olateru, spoke to the media shortly after signing the agreement. Olateru said that the agreement was necessary due to the modern demand for aviation cooperation.

Although both countries have well-developed equipment and human capital, Olateru said there are still areas where both countries can learn from each other. He noted that Saudi Arabia has offered to help Nigeria specifically in the area of human capital development.

"There will be an exchange of ideas. To stay in business, you have to continuously evaluate what you do, and how you do it and constantly change things to make sure you are on top of your game all the time and in line with reality. That is what we aim to achieve with this partnership," he added.

The Director General of the Accident Investigation Bureau of Saudi Arabia, Abdulelah Felemban, has stated that the agreement between the organizations is intending to promote safety and the prevention of accidents.

The purpose of the investigation, as he said, is to ensure and promote safety for all passengers. "Our mission is to collect data, evidence, and analyze it so that we can make our skies safer for everyone."

"The agreement is an executive technical cooperation program. The benefit for both of us is that there is a lot of experience and learning that comes with accident investigation. This cooperation mechanism allows us to exchange knowledge and information," said Felemban.

Nigeria and Saudi Arabia have been working together more frequently in recent years, and this has culminated in several agreements being signed between the two countries in October of 2022. These agreements cover a wide range of topics including defense, security, human trafficking, economic development, trade and investment, and religious pilgrimage.