President Bola Tinubu has announced a major overhaul of the Nigerian Civil Aviation sector, sacking and replacing six chief executive officers under the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development.
The President said the move was in line with his 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.
According to a statement issued by Ajuri Ngelale, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, the affected officials are:
– Mr. Kabir Yusuf Mohammed, the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), who has been replaced with Mrs. Olubunmi Oluwaseun Kuku.
– Mr. Tayib Adetunji Odunowo, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), who has been replaced with Engr. Umar Ahmed Farouk.
– Engr. Akinola Olateru, the Director-General of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), who has been replaced with Mr. Alex Badeh Jr.
– Prof. Mansur Bako Matazu, the Director-General of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET), who has been replaced with Prof. Charles Anosike.
– Capt. Alkali Mahmud Modibbo, the Rector of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), who has been replaced with Mr. Joseph Shaka Imalighwe as the Acting Rector, pending the appointment of a substantive Rector.
– Capt. Musa Shuaibu Nuhu, the Director-General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), who has been suspended from office to enable the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to conduct an investigation into the activities of the suspended Director-General and other senior officials in the NCAA. Capt. Chris Najomo assumes office as the Acting Director-General of the NCAA immediately.
The statement also said that President Tinubu has approved the commencement of a diligent process to be conducted by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development to recruit a substantive Vice-Chancellor and other principal officers of the African Aviation and Aerospace University (AAAU).
The President expressed his anticipation that the new leadership across the critical sector will uphold the safety, convenience, and comfort of the Nigerian people as primary and sacrosanct in all of their administrative activities. He also said that due to the high cost of underperformance in the sector, he demands the immediate establishment of world-class policy design, implementation, and regulatory frameworks to reposition the sector in alignment with his Renewed Hope Agenda.
The statement added that the above-mentioned directives of the President take immediate effect.