On Wednesday, President Bola Tinubu took decisive action by dismissing five managing directors and Directors-General from parastatals within the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development.
The President temporarily suspended the Director-General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, Capt. Musa Shuaibu Nuhu, to facilitate an unimpeded investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, as disclosed in a press statement signed by his Special Adviser (Media and Publicity), Ajuri Ngelale.
The move aligns with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, aimed at instilling global standards in Nigerian Civil Aviation to enhance consumer protection, promote the well-being of Nigerian passengers, and address the costly underperformance within the sector.
The affected officials include Mr. Kabir Yusuf Mohammed of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Mr. Tayib Adetunji Odunowo of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, Akinola Olateru of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau, Prof. Mansur Bako Matazu of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, and Capt. Alkali Mahmud Modibbo of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology.
The press statement announced the replacement of Mr. Kabir Yusuf Mohammed with Mrs. Olubunmi Oluwaseun Kuku as the substantive Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria. Similarly, Mr. Tayib Adetunji Odunowo was succeeded by Engr. Umar Ahmed Farouk as the substantive Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency.
Engr. Akinola Olateru’s position as Director-General of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau was filled by Mr. Alex Badeh Jr., and Prof. Mansur Bako Matazu’s role at the Nigerian Meteorological Agency was taken over by Prof. Charles Anosike. In the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Capt. Alkali Mahmud Modibbo was replaced by Mr. Joseph Shaka Imalighwe as the Acting Rector.
The statement also announced the suspension of the Director-General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, Capt. Musa Shuaibu Nuhu, to allow the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to conduct an unrestricted investigation into the activities of the suspended Director-General and other senior officials. Capt. Chris Najomo was appointed as the acting Director-General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority in the interim.
President Tinubu additionally authorized the initiation of a thorough process by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, to recruit a substantive Vice-Chancellor and other principal officers for the African Aviation and Aerospace University. He emphasized the importance of the new leadership prioritizing the safety, convenience, and comfort of the Nigerian people in all administrative endeavors within the sector.
