The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has strongly refuted the United States State Department's assessment claiming Nigerian airports are generally unsafe, describing the evaluation as unfair and lacking proper context.

In a statement released on Wednesday, NSIB Director General, Captain Alex Badeh, specifically addressed a recent incident at Asaba airport where an aircraft reportedly encountered animals on the runway. He clarified that the aircraft continued its journey to Abuja without sustaining any damage.

"It's unfair to generalise that our airports are totally unsafe. We recognise the need for continuous improvement, and we commend the efforts of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) in implementing upgrades," Badeh stated.

The NSIB chief emphasized that wildlife intrusions on runways are rare occurrences in Nigeria and not unique to the country, noting that such incidents happen at airports worldwide, including those in the United States.

"It's crucial to consider the context and metrics used in such evaluations and acknowledge that challenges such as perimeter fencing and instances of wildlife intrusion exist at some airports," he added.

According to Badeh, the Asaba incident was duly reported to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA). However, since there was no significant issue, it did not warrant reporting to the NSIB. Nevertheless, he mentioned plans to engage with the private entity managing the airport to discuss best practices.

The NSIB's response comes amid growing concerns about aviation safety standards in Nigeria, with the bureau reaffirming its commitment to maintaining and improving safety protocols across Nigerian airports in line with international standards.