President Bola Tinubu has implemented a major overhaul in the aviation sector, suspending the Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Mr. Musa Nuhu, and sacking the Chief Executive Officers of about five other agencies under the Ministry of Aviation over allegations of corruption and poor performance.
The president’s special adviser on media and publicity, Mr. Ajuri Ngelale, announced the sacking of the NCAA DG in a statement released on Wednesday, saying they were part of the president’s efforts determination to bring world-class standards to Nigerian Civil Aviation in consumer protection and the promotion of the wellbeing of Nigerian passengers and other sectoral stakeholders.
He also announced the sacking and appointments of the new heads for the affected agencies, who will assume office immediately.
The affected agencies are:
- Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN): Mr. Kabir Mohammed.
- Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA): Mr. Tayib Odunowo.
- Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB): Akinola Olateru.
- Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET): Prof. Mansur Matazu.
- Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT): Alkali Modibbo (Rector)
The new agency heads are:
- FAAN: Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku
- NAMA: Engr. Umar Farouk
- NSIB: Mr. Alex Badeh Jr.
- NiMET: Prof. Charles Anosike
- NCAT: Mr. Joseph Imalighwe
- NCAA: Mr. Chris Najomo
According to the statement by Ajuri Ngelale, the Director-General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Capt. Musa Shuaibu Nuhu, has been suspended from office to enable the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to conduct an unfettered investigation into the activities of the suspended Director-General and other senior officials in the NCAA.
Capt. Chris Najomo has been appointed as the Acting Director-General of NCAA, with immediate effect.
The president has also sacked the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mr. Kabir Yusuf Mohammed, and replaced him with Mrs. Olubunmi Oluwaseun Kuku as the substantive Managing Director of FAAN.
Engr. Umar Ahmed Farouk has been appointed as the substantive Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), replacing Mr. Tayib Adetunji Odunowo, who was removed from office.
Mr. Alex Badeh Jr. has been appointed as the substantive Director-General of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), replacing Engr. Akinola Olateru, who was sacked by the president.
Prof. Charles Anosike has been appointed as the substantive Director-General of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET), replacing Prof. Mansur Bako Matazu, who was removed from office.
Mr. Joseph Shaka Imalighwe has been appointed as the Acting Rector of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), pending the appointment of a substantive Rector, in accordance with Section 13(2) of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology Act, 2022. He replaces Capt. Alkali Mahmud Modibbo, who was also sacked by the president.
The president has also approved the commencement of a diligent process to be conducted by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, to recruit a substantive Vice-Chancellor and other principal officers of the African Aviation and Aerospace University (AAAU).
He expressed his anticipation that the new leadership across the critical sector would uphold the safety, convenience and comfort of the Nigerian people as primary and sacrosanct in all of their administrative activities.
The President also demanded the immediate establishment of world-class policy design, implementation and regulatory frameworks to reposition the sector in alignment with his Renewed Hope Agenda.