By Shola Adekola | Lagos
Nigerian born Commissioner, Banjul Accord Group Accident Investigation Agency (BAGAIA), Mr Charles Irikefe Erhueh, has said that cost of safety is nowhere near what happens when there is an accident, stressing that accidents and incidents investigation be taken seriously for the safety lessons they provide.
Erhueh made this known during a visit to Sierra Leone Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (SLAAIB) for an Assistance Mission to States in the Development of Legislation, Regulations and Procedures relating to CE:1-CE:8.
As part of BAGAIA’s strategic plan cum 2023 work programme, the Regional Accident Investigation Organisation (RAIO) has the responsibility to monitor and provide inputs to member states on the formulation and implementation of its operations in relation to ICAO-SARPS in the area of aircraft accident and incident investigation (AIG).
During the visit, the BAGAIA Commissioner commended the Deputy Minister, Ministry of Transport and Aviation, Sierra Leone, Mr Rex Bhonapha, and the government for keying into the idea of establishing an aircraft accident bureau which his team midwifed in 2019 after extensive interaction.
Bhonapha, in his response, commended the SL-AAIIB and BAGAIA especially for the role the latter played in ensuring the establishment of the bureau, saying that the new body is doing very well while adding that the hardest part of any institution is the start-up phase.
He said the government is doing its best to push the bureau to an envious height in the continent.
The deputy minister further said safety in aviation was key and that he has worked in the mining industry where he stood in as a safety manager.
While saying that 98 percent of incidents and accidents are caused by human factors while two percent are due to other factors, the deputy minister said, “Safety is very key, we will not wait until it happens.”
The commissioner, SL-AAIIB, Mr Olubunmi Wellington, thanked the Deputy Minister for his support.
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