President Bola Tinubu has approved the suspension, removal, and replacements of various heads of agencies under the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development.
This, he said is in line with his determination to bring world class standards to the Nigerian Civil Aviation sector in consumer protection and the promotion of the wellbeing of passengers and stakeholders.
The Special Adviser to the President, Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale made this known in a statement on Wednesday.
According to the statement, the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Kabir Yusuf Mohammed was removed from office and replaced with Mrs. Olubunmi Oluwaseun Kuku as the substantive Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria.
The Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Tayib Adetunji Odunowo has been replaced with Engr. Umar Ahmed Farouk as the substantive Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency.
Similarly, the 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 the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau.
The Director-General of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET), Prof. Mansur Bako Matazu was removed from office and replaced with Prof. Charles Anosike as the substantive Director-General of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency.
In the same vein, the Rector of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Capt. Alkali Mahmud Modibbo has been removed from office and replaced with Mr. Joseph Shaka 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.
The Director-General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Capt. Musa Shuaibu Nuhu has also been suspended from office.
The statement added that this is 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 assumed office as the Acting Director-General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority immediately.
The President 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 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”, the statement added.
