Buhari in last minute move, renames airports, reconstitutes Boards of aviation agencies

Ex-President, Muhammadu Buhari approved the renaming of some airports across the country with barely hours to the official end of his administration.

The airports were renamed after some prominent Nigerians in recognition of their individual contribution to the development of the nation in different sectors.

Also, Buhari approved the reconstitution of the Management Boards of some agencies in the aviation sector which are mostly institutional.

A statement issued by the Head of Press and Public Affairs, in the Aviation ministry, Odutayo Oluseyi, listed the renamed airports to include; the Akure International Airport named after Olumuyiwa Bernard Aliu, Benin Airport  now known as Oba Akenzua II International Airport Benin, Dutse International Airport renamed Muhammed Nuhu Sanusi.

Other airports that were renamed last minute by the outgoing President are : Ebonyi International Airport is now known as Chuba Wilberforce Okadigbo Airport and Gombe International Airport renamed Brigadier Zakari Maimalari.

Ibadan International Airport renamed after Samuel Ladoke Akintola, Ilorin International Airport named General Tunde Abdullahi Idiagbon, Kaduna International Airport (Gen. Hassan Usman Katsina), and Maiduguri International Airport named after President Muhammadu Buhari.

According to the statement Makurdi International Airport renamed Joseph Sarwuan Tarka, Minna International Airport renamed Mall. Abubakar Imam, Nasarawa International Airport named after Sheikh Usman Danfodio, Osubi International Airport renamed Alfred Diete Spiff, Port Harcourt International Airport renamed Obafemi Jeremiah Awolowo and Yola International Airport now known as Lamido Aliyu Mustapha Airport.

Also, another last minute decision announced by the Buhari administration is reconstitution of the Governing Boards of agencies in the ministry.

The development announced through the now former Aviation minister, Hadi Minister comes in over seven years federal government rejected reconstituting the Boards, despite demands for such by aviation stakeholders.

The Federal Government had claimed that the reason for not constituting the boards was that it was not in line with the Acts establishing the agencies.

The boards of agencies constituted include; the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and the recently created Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB).

A statement by the Head of Press and Public Affairs in the Ministry, Odutayo Oluseyi showed that the NCAA is to be chaired by Mr. Lai Are with two institutional members representing Ministries of Aviation and Defence.

FAAN to be  chaired by Capt. Fola Akinkuotu, a former Managing Director of NAMA and a one-time Director General of NCAA with five institutional members representing the Ministries of Aviation, Defence, Justice and Tourism and NCAT while Capt. Mukhtar Aminu and Mr. Chris Aligbe are members.

NAMA’s board according to the statement is to be chaired by Capt. Bashir Sodangi with four institutional members representing Ministries of Aviation, Communications and Digital Economy, Transportation and Nigerian Air Force as well as two other members to represent public interest. They are Mr. Richard Aisuebeogun and Suleiman Balarabe Ismail.

NSIB to be chaired by Engr. Ezekiel Danboyi Zang with six other members including Engr. Suraj Abdulwahab, Engr. Ita Awak, Mall. Nasiru Anas, Alhaji Sani Maida, Engr. Pantani Esugo and Lawrence Fubara Anga, SAN.

NiMet board , the statement informed to be chaired  by Dr. Imoro Kubor with four institutional members representing Ministries of Aviation, Agriculture and Natural, Resources, Environment and Transportation with Dr. Adebayo Yinka and Prof. Aliyu Umar Tambuwal as members.

While the NCAT Board  will be headed by Capt. Jonathan Ibrahim with institutional members which include the Ministry of Aviation, NCAA, Nigeria’s ICAO representative, representative of the aviation sector, Engr. Bashir Saad, Hajia Binta Aminu Iya representing the community, representative of the College elected from the congregation who should be a non-teaching staff and the college registrar.

“It should be noted that, in line with the recently promulgated and gazetted Acts of the Agencies, membership of the Boards are mostly institutional representations. The President therefore considered the requirements in approving the memberships and hopes that they will play the necessary roles in furthering the development of the sector as a new administration takes over,” the statement read.