President Bola Tinubu has replaced five Managing Directors and Directors-General of parastatals in the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development.
The President also suspended the Director-General of Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, Capt. Musa Shuaibu Nuhu, to enable him face an “unfettered investigation” by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
The changes in the leadership positions in the aviation ministry’s agencies was contained in a statement signed by his Special Adviser (Media and Publicity), Ajuri Ngelale.
According to him, the removal of the CEOs aligns with his Renewed Hope Agenda aimed at ensuring world-class standards to Nigerian Civil Aviation in consumer protection and the promotion of the well-being of Nigerian passengers and the high cost of underperformance in the sector.
The affected directors include the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Mr. Kabir Yusuf Mohammed; Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, Mr. Tayib Adetunji Odunowo; Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau, Akinola Olateru; Nigerian Meteorological Agency, Prof. Mansur Bako Matazu, Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Capt. Alkali Mahmud Modibbo.
The statement partly reads: “The Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mr. Kabir Yusuf Mohammed, has been removed from office and replaced with Mrs. Olubunmi Oluwaseun Kuku as the substantive Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria.
“Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Mr. Tayib Adetunji Odunowo, has been removed from office and replaced with Engr. Umar Ahmed Farouk is the substantive Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency.
“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.
“Director-General of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET), Prof. Mansur Bako Matazu, has been removed from office and replaced with Prof. Charles Anosike as the substantive Director-General of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency.
“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.
“Director-General of the 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 will assume office as the acting director-general of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority immediately”, Ajulale added.
The spokesman also stated that the President approved the commencement of a diligent process to be conducted by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Barr. Festus Keyamo, to recruit a substantive Vice-Chancellor and other principal officers for the African Aviation and Aerospace University.
The President urged the new leadership of the agencies to uphold the safety, convenience, and comfort of the Nigerian people as primary and sacrosanct in all of their administrative activities.
