“The future of aviation in West Africa depends on how well we collaborate today.” Demonstrating this commitment, director-general of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), Captain Alex Badeh Jr. paid a strategic visit to CEO of Asky Airlines, Esayas Woldemariam Hailu, in Lomé, Togo. The high-level engagement underscored an important step toward deepening regional cooperation and fostering mutual alignment on aviation safety, transparent investigations, and advanced technical training.
The meeting, held at Asky Airlines’ headquarters, focused on strengthening ties between Nigeria’s Transportation Accident Investigation Agency and one of West Africa’s leading carriers. Both leaders discussed ways to harmonise safety practices, develop a clear framework for operational support, and collaborate closely on investigation procedures in line with ICAO standards.
Badeh Jr. highlighted NSIB’s regional mandate and the need to work proactively with airline stakeholders to strengthen safety outcomes across West Africa. “This visit is more than a courtesy call; it is a deliberate step toward building a trusted network for collaboration and accountability in our region’s aviation sector. Through shared knowledge and operational transparency, we can keep our skies safer for everyone,” he said.
He further emphasised the agency’s shift from reactive rule-making to proactive risk management built on science, data and technology. “We want to detect threats before they grow into incidents, identify trends before they turn into statistics, and prevent tomorrow’s accidents today. Achieving this requires genuine collaboration with partners like Asky Airlines and a commitment to open information exchange,” Badeh Jr. added.
Hailu expressed his appreciation for the visit and reaffirmed Asky Airlines’ commitment to maintaining the highest safety standards through strong partnerships. “We are pleased to welcome the Director General and his team. At Asky Airlines, we are dedicated to not only meeting but exceeding global safety expectations. Working with investigation authorities like the NSIB helps us stay responsive, transparent, and compliant with global best practices,” he said.
NSIB’s director of public affairs and family assistance, Bimbo Olawumi Oladeji stated that both leaders were optimistic about future collaboration opportunities, including the exchange of investigation insights, capacity-building programmes and joint safety training designed to strengthen the regional aviation framework.
As West Africa grows as a key aviation hub, this visit signals a forward-looking commitment to integrated safety systems, shared expertise, and sustainable oversight for safer air travel in the region and beyond.
