President Bola Tinubu dismissed the heads of various aviation agencies on Wednesday, replacing them with acting and substantive heads.
They include Mr. Kabir Mohammed of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN); Mr. Tayib Odunowo of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency; Akinola Olateru of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau; Prof. Mansur Matazu of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency; and Alkali Modibbo, the Rector of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology.
He also suspended the Director-General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, Captain Musa Nuhu, “to enable the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to conduct an unfettered investigation into the activities of the suspended Director-General and other senior officials in the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority,” according to a statement signed by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, on Wednesday night.
Furthermore, he authorized the start of the process to recruit a substantive Vice-Chancellor and other key officers for the African Aviation and Aerospace University, which will be led by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo.
The move is “in line with the President’s 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,” said Ngelale.
The president stated that he expects the new leadership in the aviation sector to prioritize and protect the safety, convenience, and comfort of Nigerians in all administrative activities.
Due to the high cost of sector underperformance, the President also demanded the immediate establishment of world-class policy design, implementation, and regulatory frameworks to reposition the sector in accordance with his Renewed Hope Agenda.
Ngelale confirmed that all Tinubu’s directives are effective immediately.
