FAAN, NAMA MDs fired as mass sack hits aviation sector

President Bola Tinubu has approved the suspension, removal, and replacement of Chief Executive Officers under the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development.

Under the latest reshuffling, Kabir Yusuf Mohammed, the managing director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), has been removed from office and replaced with Olubunmi Oluwaseun Kuku as the substantive Managing Director of the authority.

Also affected is Tayib Adetunji Odunowo,the managing director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), who has been removed from office and replaced with Umar Ahmed Farouk as the substantive Managing Director of the agency.

Akinola Olateru,the Director-General of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), has also been removed from office and replaced with Alex Badeh as the substantive Director-General of the Bureau.

Mansur Bako Matazu, the Director-General of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET), has been removed from office and replaced with Charles Anosike as the substantive Director-General of the Meteorological Agency.

Alkali Mahmud Modibbo, the Rector of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), has been removed from office and replaced with 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.

Musa Shuaibu Nuhu, the 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 NCAA.
Captain Chris Najomo has however assumed office as the Acting Director-General of the NCAA immediately.

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Furthermore, President Bola Tinubu has approved the commencement of a diligent process to be conducted 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 (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 also demanded the immediate establishment of world-class policy design, implementation, and regulatory frameworks to reposition the sector in alignment with his Renewed Hope Agenda.

According to a statement issued by spokesperson to the President, Ajuri Ngelale, all of the above-mentioned directives of the President take immediate effect.