President Bola Tinubu orchestrated a major overhaul in Nigeria’s aviation sector on Wednesday, replacing heads of several agencies with new acting and substantive leaders.
Among the notable changes are the appointments of Mr. Kabir Mohammed as head of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mr. Tayib Odunowo at the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Akinola Olateru taking the reins at the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), Prof. Mansur Matazu overseeing the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET), and Alkali Modibbo assuming the role of Rector at the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT).
Simultaneously, Tinubu suspended Captain Musa Nuhu, Director-General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), enabling the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to conduct an unfettered investigation into the activities of Nuhu and other senior officials within the authority, according to a statement from Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale.
Titled ‘President Tinubu approves leadership changes in the Aviation and Aerospace Development Sector,’ the statement announced the appointment of Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku as the substantive Managing Director of FAAN, Umar Farouk as the substantive Managing Director of NAMA, and Mr. Alex Badeh Jr. as the substantive Director-General of NSIB.
Additionally, Tinubu designated Prof. Charles Anosike as the substantive Director-General of NiMET, Mr. Joseph Imalighwe as the Acting Rector of NCAT, and Mr. Chris Najomo as the Acting Director-General of the NCAA.
The President also greenlit the initiation of a recruitment process, headed by Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, to appoint a substantive Vice-Chancellor and other principal officers for the African Aviation and Aerospace University.
Ngelale emphasized that these changes reflect the President’s commitment to elevating Nigerian Civil Aviation standards, ensuring consumer protection, and enhancing the wellbeing of passengers and stakeholders in the sector.
President Tinubu highlighted the importance of prioritizing safety, convenience, and comfort for Nigerians in all administrative endeavors within the aviation sector. He emphasized the urgent need for world-class policy frameworks to revitalize the sector, aligning it with his Renewed Hope Agenda, citing the high costs of underperformance.
All directives from the President are effective immediately, as confirmed by Ngelale.
