By Ikugbadi Oluwasegun
President Bola Tinubu has removed and replaced Chief Executive Officers of FAAN, NAMA, NSIB, NIMET and others under the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development.
This was disclosed in a statement issued on Wednesday by Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media and publicity, where he said, “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, President Bola Tinubu has approved the suspension, removal, and replacement of the following Chief Executive Officers under the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development:
Mr. Kabir Yusuf Mohammed, Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has been removed from office and replaced with Mrs. Olubunmi Oluwaseun Kuku as the substantive Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria.
Mr. Tayib Adetunji Odunowo, Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), has been removed from office and replaced with Engr. Umar Ahmed Farouk as the substantive Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency.
Engr. Akinola Olateru, Director-General of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), has been removed from office and replaced with Mr. Alex Badeh Jr. as the substantive Director-General of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau.
Prof. Mansur Bako Matazu, Director-General of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET), has been removed from office and replaced with Prof. Charles Anosike as the substantive Director-General of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency.
Capt. Alkali Mahmud Modibbo, Rector of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), 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.
Capt. Musa Shuaibu Nuhu, Director-General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), 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 assumes office as the Acting Director-General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority immediately.
Furthermore, President Bola Tinubu approves 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.