Aviation minister appoints 46 new directors, creates new directorate of Cargo Services
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, has announced the appointment of new directors for the agencies under the ministry, including the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
This was disclosed, in a release signed by the Director of Press, Minister of Aviation, Odutayo Oluseyi.
“All the newly appointed directors are to get in touch with the Director, Human Resource Department of the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development to collect their letters of appointment as the appointment is with immediate effect.
The appointed directors named for the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), were Prof Vincent Weli, Director, Weather Services; Prof Odjugo Ovuyovwiroye, Director, Research and Training; Onyegbule Amarachi, Director, Applied Meteorological Services and Abdulkareem Hamid, Director, Engineering And Technical Services.
Others are; Funke Arowojobe, Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection; Shola Gabriel, Director, Legal Services/ Company Secretary; Nasiru Sani, Director, Human Resources and Administration; Alex Yusuf, Director, Finance and Accounts and Airiohuodion Omonzojie, Director, Corporate Services.
At the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the new directors are Balang Godwin, Director, Aerodrome and Airspace Standards; Yinka Boboye, Director, Air Transport Regulations; Capt. Donald Spiff, Director, Operations, Licensing and Training; Michael Achimugu, Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection and Omogo Chinedu, Director, Avsec Regulation.
Others include; Olufemi Odukoya, Director, Finance and Accounts; Victor Goyea, Director, Airworthiness Standards; Mary Tufano, Director, Legal Services/Company Secretary; Anastasia Gbem, Director, Human Resources and Administration; Horatius Egwa, Director, Special Duties and Rebecca Aghadinazu, Director, Corporate Services.
At the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Muonemeh Lotenna was named as Director, Finance and Accounts; John Tayo, Director, Operations; Abimbola Ladipo, Director, Human Resources and Administration; Ijeoma Ihenachor, Director, Safety Electronic and Engineering Services; Rita Isemiuhonmon Egbadon, Director, Legal Services/Company Secretary; Abdulahi Musa, Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection; Abba Ahmad, Director, Special Duties and Ibrahim Aliyu, Director Corporate Services.
At the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), Abdulahi Babanya was appointed Director, Engineering Services; Odita Isioma, Director, Operations; Nwobu Patrick, Director, Transport Investigation; Esosa Eremwanarua, Director, Legal Services/Company Secretary, Lawal Abdulmumin, Director, Human Resources; Mrs Bimbo Oladeji, Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection; Dr (Mrs) Itohan Okundaye-Oke, Director, Finance and Accounts and Baro Henry Minabowanre Director, Corporate Services.
At the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN): Muniru Abiola is Director, Engineering Services; Capt. Abdullahi Mohmood, Director, Airport Operations; Ayodele Olatiregun, Director, Finance and Accounts; Luqman Eniola, Director, Human Resources and Administration; Igbafe Afegbai, Director, Aviation Security Services; Mrs Bridget Gold, Director, Legal Services/Company Secretary and Jensen Asaba Director, Corporate Services.
Others include; Obiageli Orah, Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection; Henry Agbebire, Director, Special Duties and Adebola Agunbiade, Director, Commercial and Business Development.
The statement further added that a new directorate called the Cargo Services has been created at the FAAN to ameliorate issues besetting the sector.
“Also, a new directorate called the Cargo Services has been created at the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria to ameliorate issues besetting the sector,” the statement read.
Last week, the Ministry announced the sacking of over 50 directors in the wake of the removal of six directors general of agencies in the aviation sector.
Over 50 senior directors were 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.
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.
There are about 50 senior directors in the listed agencies.
“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.