From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
President Bola Tinubu has approved the suspension, removal, and replacement of
Chief Executive Officers under the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, 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.
The officers are: Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Kabir Mohammed has been sacked and replaced with Olubunmi Kuku as the substantive Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria.
Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Mr. Tayib Odunowo has been sacked and replaced with Umar Farouk as the substantive Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency.
Director-General of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), Akinola Olateru has been removed and replaced with Alex Badeh Jr. as the substantive Director-General of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau.
Director-General of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET), Mansur Matazu has been sacked and replaced with Charles Anosike as the substantive Director-General of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency.
Rector of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Alkali Modibbo has been removed from office and replaced with Joseph Imalighwe 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.
Director-General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Capt. Musa 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 Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority. Capt. Chris Najomo assumes office as the Acting Director-General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority immediately.
According to a statement issued by Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, President Tinubu has also 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 said he anticipates that the new leadership of these agencies will uphold the safety, convenience, and comfort of the Nigerian people as primary and sacrosanct in all of their administrative activities.
“Due to the high cost of underperformance in the sector, the President demands the immediate establishment of world-class policy design, implementation, and regulatory frameworks to reposition the sector in alignment with his Renewed Hope Agenda.
“All of the above-mentioned directives of the President take immediate effect, the statement read.