FG agencies step up coordination on family assistance in aviation emergencies

The Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) have begun discussions to strengthen collaboration on supporting victims of aircraft accidents and their families, as part of efforts to align Nigeria’s aviation emergency response framework with international standards.

The move is aimed at improving institutional coordination, capacity building and the implementation of Family Assistance programmes within the country’s aviation sector.

This was disclosed in a statement issued on Wednesday by Funke Arowojobe, Director of Public Affairs and Family Assistance, NSIB.

According to the statement, the discussions took place in Abuja during a meeting between the National Family Assistance Coordination Committee, coordinated by the NSIB, and officials of the NCAA.

The NSIB delegation was led by Adebayo-Arowojobe, while the NCAA team was headed by Michael Achimugu, Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection.

Speaking during the engagement, Adebayo-Arowojobe explained that the National Family Assistance Coordination Committee operates within a multimodal transportation framework that covers aviation, marine, rail and other transport sectors.

She said the meeting was convened to strengthen collaboration between both agencies on aviation disaster victim and family assistance.

According to her, discussions focused on the objectives of the Family Assistance Programme, the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) policy on assistance to aircraft accident victims and their families, the mandate of the National Family Assistance Coordination Committee, the statutory responsibilities of the NSIB and the complementary role of the NCAA in supporting affected families.

“Family Assistance is an essential component of transportation safety management and emergency response. The programme is designed to provide coordinated institutional support that preserves the dignity of victims, ensures families receive timely and accurate information, facilitates access to essential services and promotes compassionate engagement throughout the post-occurrence process,” she said.

She added that effective implementation would require sustained collaboration among transportation agencies and strict adherence to international best practices.

Responding on behalf of the NCAA, Michael Achimugu welcomed the initiative and reaffirmed the authority’s commitment to working closely with the NSIB to strengthen Family Assistance within Nigeria’s aviation industry.

He identified continuous training and retraining of personnel as critical to the successful implementation of the programme, noting that building institutional capacity would ensure agencies are adequately prepared to provide coordinated and professional support during aviation emergencies.

According to the statement, both agencies identified practical areas for collaboration, including joint capacity-building programmes, knowledge sharing, stakeholder sensitisation and the development of sustainable mechanisms for implementing Family Assistance initiatives in line with international standards.

The NSIB said the partnership is expected to establish clearer institutional procedures for supporting families affected by aviation accidents while enhancing Nigeria’s preparedness to respond effectively to future emergencies.

Family Assistance is recognised globally as a key component of aviation emergency response, with the International Civil Aviation Organisation requiring member states to establish systems that provide timely information, care and coordinated support to victims of aircraft accidents and their families.