The Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) Nigeria and the Benin Republic Air Accident Investigation have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), to boost cooperation in terms of air accident investigation and capacity building.
Engr. Akin Olateru, Commissioner/CEO of AIB while signing the MoU recently in Abuja explained that the pact was to assist the Republic of Benin to fulfill international obligations on accident investigation.
While addressing the press, he stated that “what we just did today was to help both countries fulfill our obligations to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) convention on accident investigation”
The agreement was in four parts including cooperation, capacity building, exchange of information on accident investigation and assistance in cases of an air accident.
He further disclosed plans to sign an agreement with some other African states including Sao Tome and Principe and Niger Republic, adding that AIB was considering agreements with four countries and would be concluded within the next few months.
The Commissioner pointed out that the Benin Republic does not have a robust accident investigation body like Nigeria but in case of an air accident, AIB would deploy resources to assist them, which would further boost the capacity of their investigators.
He reiterated that Nigeria has become a force to reckon with in Africa in the area of accident investigation and capacity building adding that Nigeria had the needed resources to assist other African countries.
The Coordinator, Benin Republic’s Bureau of Air Accident Investigation, Gongo Paul, expressed joy at sealing the pact.
He noted that he was mandated by his government and for the last six months they had been negotiating with the Accident Investigation Bureau of Nigeria adding that so far it was a smooth negotiation.
By Oketunbi at 30 Aug 2018, 18:32 PM
