Over 50 directors affected in Aviation ministry putsch

Over 50 senior directors are confirmed to have been affected in last Wednesday’s sack of the entire leadership of six agencies at the Federal Ministry of Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace, aside the Directors-General (DGs).

President Bola Tinubu had, last Tuesday, announced the immediate sack and replacements of six Directors-General of six agencies under the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace, headed by the minister, Mr Festus Keyamo.

President Tinubu explained that the decision to sack the officers was ‘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.

Tinubu, also appointed replacements for the affected officers immediately.

In the statement released by the Presidency, the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mr. Kabir Yusuf Mohammed was replaced with Mrs. Olubunmi Oluwaseun Kuku as the substantive Managing Director.

Incidentally, the Federal Government, through former Minister of Aviation, Hadi sirika appointed Mr. Kabir Yusuf Mohammed as the new Managing Director for FAAN barely seven months ago.

Mr Yusuf replaced Capt. Hamisu Yadudu, who has been in office since May 20, 2019.

Prior to his appointment, he was Regional General Manager North Central, Airport Manager, Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja.

Also, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Mr. Tayib Adetunji Odunowo was removed from office and replaced with Engr. Umar Ahmed Farouk as the substantive Managing Director.

Director-General of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), Engr. Akinola Olateru was also removed and replaced with Mr. Alex Badeh Jr. as the substantive Director-General.

Director-General of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET), Prof. Mansur Bako Matazu was replaced with Prof. Charles Anosike as the substantive Director-General .

Rector of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Capt. Alkali Mahmud Modibbo replaced with Mr. Joseph Shaka Imalighwe as the Acting Rector, pending the appointment of a substantive Rector, in accordance with Section 13(2) of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology Act, 2022.

While, the Director-General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Capt. Musa Shuaibu Nuhu was suspended from office ‘to enable the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) conduct an unfettered investigation into the activities of the suspended Director-General and other senior officials in the agency, as Capt. Chris Najomo assumes office as the Acting Director-General.

The statement also disclosed that Tinubu has 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 under-performance 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 read.

Meanwhile, it has been confirmed that aside the six DGs affected by the Presidential order, over 50 senior directors were hit by the sackings.

On Thursday, the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development followed up with an announcement relieving senior directors of the affected agencies, including; NAMA, NCAA, FAAN, NSIB and NiMet of their jobs ‘with immediate effect.’

There are about 50 senior directors in the listed agencies, as they were also ‘instructed to hand over their duties to the most senior personnel in their respective directorates without further delay.’

“Following the change in the leadership of the Aviation and Aerospace Development agencies’ CEOs and MDs aimed to reposition the aviation industry and ensure safety and efficient air travel experience by Nigerians in line with the Renewed Hope agenda of Mr. President, I am directed to inform all DIRECTORS of the following agencies that they have been relieved of their appointments forthwith and should hand over to the most senior officer in their various directorates with immediate effect.

“The directors of the affected agencies, include; the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, Nigeria Metrological Agency, Nigeria Airspace Management Agency, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, and Nigeria Safety and Investigation Bureau have been instructed to hand over their duties to the most senior personnel in their respective directorates without further delay.

The statement clarified that the agencies’ Board Secretaries and Legal Advisers remain unaffected by this directive.

“All affected directors have been urged to adhere strictly to the instructions provided,” the statement read issued by the Ministry.