The President of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu, fired several Chief Executive Officers from the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development yesterday. He also announced their replacements.
The revelation was made in a statement yesterday in Abuja by Ajuri Ngelale, the President’s Special Advisor on Media and Publicity.
According to the statement, the move reflected President Tinubu’s resolve to raise the bar for consumer protection and the welfare of Nigerian travellers and other industry stakeholders to the level of international standards in the country’s civil aviation.
It read: “Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, Mr. Kabir Mohammed, has been removed from office and replaced with Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku as the substantive Managing Director of the FAAN.
Mr. Tayib Odunowo, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, NAMA, has been removed from office and Engr. Umar Farouk has been appointed as the agency’s substantive Managing Director.
Director-General of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau, NSIB, Engr. Akinola Olateru, has been removed from office and replaced with Mr. Alex Badeh Jr. as the substantive Director-General of NSIB.
Director-General of Nigerian Meteorological Agency, NIMET, Prof. Mansur Matazu, has been removed from office and replaced with Prof. Charles Anosike as the substantive Director-General of NIMET.
In accordance with Section 13(2) of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology Act, 2022, the Rector of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, NCAT, Capt. Alkali Modibbo has been removed from office and Mr. Joseph Imalighwe has been appointed as the acting Rector of NCAT, pending the appointment of a substantive Rector.
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 NCAA. Capt. Chris Najomo assumes office as the acting Director-General of the NCAA immediately.
Furthermore, President Tinubu 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 AAAU.
“The President anticipates that the new leadership across this critical sector 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.”