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Says Keyamo is destroying the aviation sector
From Paul Orude, Bauchi
Former Director in the Ministry of Aviation, Captain Muhammad Bala Jibrin, has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to reverse the decision to decentralise the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT) in Zaria.
In an open letter to the President, shared with journalists in Bauchi, Jibrin also called for the cancellation of a new airstrip approval and a review of appointments at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to ensure fairness and diversity.
Jibrin warned that decentralising NCAT into six regional centres threatens the training synergy built over decades. He explained that NCAT’s six integrated schools—Flying, Air Traffic Control, Engineering, Aeronautical Communication, Aviation Management, and Emergency and Safety—rely on each other for quality training. “For instance, all trainees for Air Traffic Control must first obtain at least a Private Pilot License,” he stated. “This enables controllers to understand a pilot’s limits in any phase of flight.”
He noted the Engineering School’s role in maintaining aircraft for pilot training, providing hands-on experience for mechanics. “It is not enough to be taught theories or demonstrations by simulators,” he said.
“Training happens when aircraft are opened for inspection, fault tracing and repairs.” The Emergency and Safety School, he added, trains all aviation stakeholders in safety procedures for airports, airlines, hangars, and concessionaires. “In aviation, safety is very important,” he noted. “Every trainee must take lessons from this school, whether they are pilots, engineers, or cabin crew.”
Drawing from his experience at NCAT over 40 years ago during national youth service, Jibrin compared its capabilities to the Florida Institute of Technology, where he earned degrees in flight and transport technology. “The Piper Aztec-F aircraft used in Zaria is the exact model I used for multi-engine training in the USA,” he revealed. “It was impressive to find such a high standard in Nigeria at that time.”
He praised NCAT’s purpose-built infrastructure, including radar simulators and fixed training consoles, which he argued cannot be relocated without disruption. Jibrin also commended the college’s world-class fire-fighting simulator, which he saw two years ago, noting its similarity to systems displayed at a global aviation expo in Hanover, Germany. As NCAT nears its 60th anniversary, he urged, “Let it celebrate its 60th birthday at home, whole and united.”
Rejecting comparisons to the Nigerian Law School, Jibrin said, “The Hon. Minister has the law school in his mind, whereas the two entities are not the same. Malaria cannot be treated with anti-acid.” He argued that aviation training’s physical, technical, and collaborative nature makes decentralisation impractical. Zaria’s moderate weather, available land, and strategic location allow flying nearly 300 days a year, he explained. “The weather in Zaria is between the intense rains of the south and the harshness of the north,” he said, comparing it to Florida’s flight training hubs.
Jibrin criticised Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, for undermining the sector. He condemned the approval of an airstrip at a church along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, warning of safety and security risks due to its proximity to existing airports and overlap with air traffic areas. He expressed concern about non-state actors controlling an airstrip amid Nigeria’s security challenges.
He also raised alarm over the appointment of eleven NCAA directors, all from one faith, calling it a breach of morality, sensibility, and the Federal Character Commission Act. Stating that the NCAA is the heart and soul of the aviation sector, he urged appointments based on merit and diversity. Noting that staff training is a priority in NCAA’s budget, he expressed disappointment at the lack of fairness in Keyamo’s decisions.
Jibrin concluded his letter as a duty-bound expression of truth, rooted in his 45 years of aviation experience, urging the President to act urgently to protect NCAT’s legacy and address these issues.