Aviation industry gets major changes, as Buhari appoints heads, directors at agencies

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the  reorganisation of Agencies under the Ministry of Aviation in line with the new Acts of the National Assembly which he assented to, and were gazetted recently. 

This reorganisation comes with major change in personnel and some heads of parastatals as the President  approved the appointment of Kabir Yusuf Mohammed as the new Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).

Until his appointment,  Kabir Yusuf Mohammed was the Regional General Manager, Central Region Airports, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and Chairman of the Aviation Roadmap Implementation Committee.

Similarly, Engr Tayib Odunowo has been appointed the substantive Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) to take over from Mr Matthew Lawrence Pwajok who reverts to his substantive position as Director of Operations of the Agency.

The Directors-General of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), Engr Akin Olateru   the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), Prof Mansur Matazu and Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA),  Captain Musa Nuhu are to run the remaining course of their tenures in line with the Acts setting up their respective Agencies, while the Rector of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology Zaria,  Captain Alkali Modibo has been granted a one-year extension, also in line with the Act setting up the College. 

The appointments in a statement signed by the Head, Press & Public Affairs, Ministry of Aviation, Odatayo Oluseyi sees Shehu D. Mohammed, become Director Human Resources and Admin Olumuyiwa Femi-Pearse is made Director Commercial and Business Management; Barr. Azubuike Okorie becomes Corporate Services  while  Kingsley Uchechukwu Okunji is General Manager (Statistics) and Jemilu Abdulrahman General Manager (Special Duties) all in FAAN.

In the NCAA, Capt Musa S. Nuhu retains his spot as Director General/CEO, while FG appointed Engr Gbolahan Abatan as Director, Airworthiness Standards, Engr. Godwin Balang Director was appointed Aerodrome and Airspace Standards  while Capt. Ibrahim Danbazau was made Director, Operations, Director, Air Transport Regulations is Mr. Olaniyi Saraku while Capt. Chris Najomo is Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection; Director, Aviation Security  is Air Cdr Hambali Tukur  while Director, Corporate Services  – R. M. Daku (Mrs), Company Secretary/Legal Adviser  – Mrs Mary Tufano, General Manager (Audit) – Mrs Dawa Gyaks and General Manager (Accounts) – Mr Aminu Tasi’u.

National safety Investigation Bureau ( NSIB) retains Engr Akin Olateru Director General/CEO   with Director, Finance and Accounts  – Mr Ori Bassey, Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection – Dr James A. Odaudu, Director, Corporate Services  – Oliobi Godfrey Ikemefuna; Transport Investigation  – Capt Tosin Odulaja while Company Secretary/Legal Adviser – Barr. Illitrus Ahmadu 

In NAMA, Engr A. Tayib Odunowo is the new Director General/CEO while Mr. Matthew Lawrence Pwajok is Director, Operations, Khalid Emele is now Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection while Mr Uchendu Chibuzo Oji, Corporate Services, Amaka Ude Walker (Mrs) is the new General Manager, Public Affairs .

In NIMET, Prof Mansur Bako Matazu retains his spot as Director General/CEO while Saleh Tukur Yusuf is Director, Human Resources and Admin, Daniel Okafor Chibueze is Director, Weather Forecasting Services while Ahmed A. Sanusi is Public Affairs and Consumer Protection for Director, Research and Training, Prof Effiong Essien Oku was appointed.

Highlights of the reorganisation include the creation of new Directorates in some of the Agencies prominent amongst which are the Public Affairs and Consumer Protection,  Corporate Services and Aviation Security Directorates.

The creation of the Public Affairs and Consumer Protection Directorate is to put the Agencies on their toes in terms of adequately addressing complaints by their respective stakeholders and oversee the Public Affairs / Protocol, Consumer Protection, SERVICOM and Anti-Corruption Departments  while the Aviation Security Directorate in the NCAA will regulate the activities of the AVSEC personnel, especially with their recent arms-bearing status. 

The Corporate Services Directorates are to oversee the Procurement and Planning, Research and Departments. 

All the appointments are with immediate effect