Five managing directors and Directors-General of parastatals in the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development were on Wednesday sacked by President Bola Tinubu.
The President also suspended the DG of Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, Capt. Musa Shuaibu Nuhu to enable him to face an “unfettered investigation” by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
These were contained in a press statement signed by President Tinubu’s Special Adviser (Media and Publicity), Ajuri Ngelale.
Ngelale said the sack is in tandem with his Renewed Hope Agenda, which is to bring 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.
According to the statement, “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 as 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, per Section 13(2) of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology Act, 2022.
“The Director-General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority 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,” the statement added.
The President further approved the commencement of a diligent process to be conducted by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, to recruit a substantive Vice-Chancellor and other principal officers of the African Aviation and Aerospace University.
The President urged the new leadership across the sector to uphold the safety, convenience, and comfort of the Nigerian people as primary and sacrosanct in all of their administrative activities.
