President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the suspension, removal, and replacement of some Chief Executive Officers under the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development.
Presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, in a statement on Wednesday, said the President took the action in line with his determination to bring world-class standards to Nigerian Civil Aviation in consumer protection and the promotion of the wellbeing of Nigerian passengers and other sectoral stakeholders.
He said the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mr Kabir Yusuf Mohammed, was replaced with Mrs. Olubunmi Oluwaseun Kuku; while the Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Mr Tayib Adetunji Odunowo, was replaced with Engr Umar Ahmed Farouk.
Ajuri said the Director-General of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), Engr Akinola Olateru, was replaced with Mr Alex Badeh Jr; the Director-General of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET), Prof. Mansur Bako Matazu, was replaced with Prof. Charles Anosike.
He said the Rector of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Capt. Alkali Mahmud Modibbo was replaced with Mr Joseph Shaka Imalighwe as Acting Rector of NCAT pending the appointment of a substantive rector, in accordance with Section 13(2) of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology Act, 2022.
Ajuri said the Director-General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, Capt. Musa Shuaibu Nuhu was suspended from office to enable the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to conduct an unfettered investigation on his and other senior officials’ activities in NCAA; while Capt. Chris Najomo assumed office as acting Director-General immediately.
The Presidential Spokesman further stated that 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 said.
