Accident Reporting
Guidelines

All reportable occurrences must be promptly notified to the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB). These guidelines apply to occurrences involving civil aviation; marine and inland waterways transportation; railway and tracked vehicles; and any other means of transportation.

Who should report

Any person or organization having knowledge of a reportable occurrence shall notify the Bureau without delay. The legal responsibility for notifying the Bureau of a reportable occurrence rests initially with the following:

1. In the case of an aircraft reportable occurrence:
   1. The Pilot-in-Command of the aircraft involved. If the Pilot-in-Command is fatally injured or incapacitated, the operator, owner or hirer assumes this responsibility;
   2. If the reportable occurrence happens on or adjacent to an aerodrome, the aerodrome authority is also obligated to notify the Bureau;
   3. Maintenance organization; and
   4. Any other person designated by law.
2. In the case of a marine or inland waterways occurrence:
   1. The vessel master or, if the vessel master has not survived, the senior surviving officer or any crew member of the vessel;
   2. The operator, owner, charterer, or agent of the ship or vessel, unless they have ascertained that the vessel master or senior surviving officer has reported the occurrence;
   3. A pilot who has duties on board the vessel;
   4. The pilotage service provider responsible for assigning or allocating a pilot to the vessel;
   5. The vessel traffic authority that provides a vessel traffic service to the vessel;
   6. The Harbour Master;
   7. The Boat Master;
   8. Port, Terminal or Jetty authorities/operators;
   9. The Regulator of the territorial waters, if a foreign ship is involved, or the regulator of the inland waterways.
3. In the case of a railway and tracked vehicle occurrence:
   1. The Driver or, if the driver has not survived, the senior surviving staff or any crew member of the train or tracked vehicle;
   2. The operator or railway industry body whose property or staff have been involved in the occurrence on railway property.
4. In the case of any other means of transportation:
   1. The Driver, operator or any other person exercising authority over that means of transportation;
   2. Safety regulatory authority, security agencies, infrastructure manager or any other person designated by law.

The following are reportable occurrences:

1. Aviation Occurrences — the following shall be immediately reportable:
   1. Aircraft accidents;
   2. Serious incidents;
   3. Runway incursions involving collision risk;
   4. Loss of separation;
   5. Controlled flight into terrain (CFIT);
   6. Fire, smoke, or explosion;
   7. Structural or engine failure affecting safety;
   8. Dangerous goods occurrences;
   9. Bird strike causing substantial damage;
   10. Fatal or serious injury associated with aircraft operations;
   11. Unlawful interference.
2. Marine and Inland Waterways Occurrences
   1. A person is killed or sustains serious injury;
   2. A crew member whose duties are directly related to the safe operation of the ship is unable to perform their duties as a result of a physical incapacitation which poses a threat to the safety of persons, property or the environment;
   3. Vessel sinking, foundering or capsizing;
   4. Vessel collision or a risk of a collision;
   5. Vessel fire or an explosion;
   6. Vessel aground;
   7. Vessel unforeseen contact with the bottom without going aground;
   8. Vessel damage that affects its seaworthiness or renders it unfit for its purpose;
   9. Vessel anchored, grounded or beached to avoid an occurrence;
   10. Vessel missing or abandoned;
   11. Fouls a utility cable or pipe, or an underwater pipeline;
   12. Total failure of:
       1. the navigation equipment, if the failure poses a threat to the safety of any person, property or the environment;
       2. the main or auxiliary machinery; or
       3. the propulsion, steering, or deck machinery, if the failure poses a threat to the safety of any person, property or the environment;
   13. All or part of the ship’s cargo shifts or falls overboard; or
   14. There is an accidental release on board or from the ship which results in any of the events relating to Transportation of Dangerous Goods.
3. Railway and Tracked Vehicle Occurrences
   1. A person is killed or sustains serious injury;
   2. Train collisions;
   3. Derailments;
   4. Signal Passed at Danger (SPAD) with safety consequence;
   5. Level crossing collisions;
   6. Infrastructure failure;
   7. Fire or explosion;
   8. Hazardous materials release.
4. Any other transportation
   1. Road Occurrences:
      1. Fatal crashes involving public transport;
      2. Mass casualty events;
      3. Hazardous goods vehicle crashes;
      4. Commercial vehicle fire/explosion;
      5. Infrastructure collapse affecting public transport safety.
   2. Pipeline and Energy Transport Occurrences:
      1. A person is killed or sustains a serious injury;
      2. Explosion;
      3. Fire;
      4. Product leakage;
      5. Structural rupture;
      6. Environmental contamination.

Initial notification may be made verbally through any of the channels below, but shall be followed by a completed NSIB notification form.

Notification may also be made through the NSIB website.

Every notification shall contain, where available, the following information:

1. Name of operator/owner or hirer, if applicable;
2. Identification / registration marks of vessel / aircraft / train / vehicle;
3. Nationality of aircraft / vessel / train / vehicle;
4. Last point of departure;
5. Location of occurrence;
6. Date and time;
7. Nature of occurrence;
8. Number of persons on board;
9. Casualties;
10. Damage sustained;
11. Hazardous materials involved;
12. Immediate actions taken;
13. Name and contact of reporting person.

These guidelines ensure timely and accurate reporting of accidents, facilitating efficient investigation and safety enhancement measures by the NSIB.