AIB rallies security agencies to improved disaster management

In a bid to prevent tampering with evidence that could sway investigation findings, Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) has rallied security agencies to best practices and procedure in disaster management.

The bureau, at a two-day workshop in Lagos, was focused on protection of investigation evidences by first responders, who in most cases are personnel of security agencies.

At least 200 personnel, drawn from Nigeria Police and Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), were trained in Lagos by top officials of the bureau and their partners from the United Kingdom. Another batch of officials will be trained in Abuja next week.

The General Manager, Security and Safety, AIB, Olumide Osineye, who was one of the instructors at the workshop, said the training was to create awareness across the country on the importance of securing crash sites.

Osineye said the training enables personnel to know and understand their roles in case of an accident, stressing that they would also be able to identify and appreciate the need for protection and preservation of evidences to aircraft accident investigation.

“You can imagine a police officer who is not aware of critical evidences like flight recorder. This is very critical to investigation. In order to help and support AIB investigation, we hold it a duty to ensure that such category of trained personnel or organisations are aware of such critical component. These people are necessary with their education and awareness of their job,” he said.

Osineye explained that it was not the first time AIB would be organising such a workshop for security personnel, recalling that the bureau recently organised training for some police officers in the country.

“Now, we are going beyond that to include the road safety officials because we know that the FRSC also play a role when accident occurs. These are field people. The education is important for us to do our job better. These people will have been on site before we get there. So, it is important for us to make them aware of this. We need to appreciate them in helping us to do our investigation,” he said.

He also commended the Commissioner of AIB, Akin Olateru, for ensuring that security personnel in the country were trained on air accident disaster management, adding that this would go a long way in improving the performance of the bureau.

The feedbacks received from the previous trainings were encouraging, he said, assuring that it would also add to the knowledge of the personnel.

Besides the sections in Lagos and Abuja, the training would cascade to other airports and stations across the country.

“The impact of AIB is great. First and foremost, all stakeholders are working towards the same goal. We are making a big leap to ensure that our safety investigation findings go a long way.

“What we do is that we ensure that the kind of accident we investigated for instance, does not recur again. However, the aim of AIB safety recommendations or investigations is not to apportion blame or obtain liability, but specifically for safety,” Osineye said.