He explained that NCAT comprises six fully integrated schools—Flying, Air Traffic Control, Engineering, Aeronautical Communication, Aviation Management, and Emergency and Safety. These departments depend on one another to deliver quality training.
BY ANTHONY OMOH
Former Director in the Ministry of Aviation, Captain Muhammad Bala Jibrin, has written to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He is calling for a halt to plans aimed at balkanizing the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria. He warned that decentralising the country’s foremost aviation institution into six regional centres is an ill-advised policy. According to him, it threatens the aviation training synergy at NCAT that has been built over decades.
Established in 1964 and operating since 1965, NCAT was supported by the International Civil Aviation Organization and the United Nations Development Programme. The college is set to celebrate 60 years of continuous aviation training this year.
“The intended splitting of the NCAT into the six geopolitical zones is ill motivated and a politically wrong decision,” said Capt. Jibrin in the open letter. “The Hon. Minister has the law school in his mind, whereas the two entities are not the same. Malaria cannot be treated with anti-acid.”
He explained that NCAT comprises six fully integrated schools—Flying, Air Traffic Control, Engineering, Aeronautical Communication, Aviation Management, and Emergency and Safety. These departments depend on one another to deliver quality training.
“For instance, all trainees for Air Traffic Control must first obtain at least a Private Pilot License,” he stated. “This enables controllers to understand a pilot’s limits in any phase of flight.” Jibrin also highlighted the vital role of the Engineering School. He said it maintains aircraft used for pilot training, creating practical learning experiences for aviation mechanics.
“It is not enough to be taught theories or demonstrations by simulators,” he said. “Training happens when aircraft are opened for inspection, fault tracing and repairs.”
Furthermore, he pointed out that the Emergency and Safety School plays a pivotal role in preparing every aviation stakeholder. According to him, safety procedures cover airports, airlines, hangars, and even concessionaires.
“In aviation, safety is numero uno,” he declared. “Every trainee must take lessons from this school, whether they are pilots, engineers, or cabin crew.”
Capt. Jibrin recalled his own firsthand experience at NCAT more than 40 years ago while serving during his NYSC. He compared the school’s capabilities with those of the Florida Institute of Technology, where he earned degrees in flight and transport technology.
“The Piper Aztec-F aircraft used in Zaria is the exact model I used for multi-engine training in the USA,” he revealed. “It was impressive to find such a high standard in Nigeria at that time.”
He stressed that NCAT’s infrastructure—including radar simulators and fixed training consoles—was purpose-built and irreplaceable. These tools, he argued, cannot be copied or relocated without major disruption.
Jibrin also praised the fire-fighting simulator he encountered at NCAT two years ago, describing it as world-class. He had previously seen similar systems showcased at a global aviation expo in Hanover, Germany.
He rejected comparisons between NCAT and the Nigerian Law School, arguing that the nature of aviation education is different. According to him, aviation training is physical, technical, and deeply collaborative.
He also pointed to Zaria’s moderate weather, available land, and strategic location. These natural advantages allow for uninterrupted flight training, which is a major consideration in aviation instruction.
“The weather in Zaria is between the intense rains of the south and the harshness of the north,” he explained. “Conditions support flying nearly 300 days a year.”
This, he said, is the same reason most flight training schools in the United States are located in Florida.
Reiterating his core argument, Jibrin warned that breaking up the school would damage the aviation training synergy at NCAT. He urged President Tinubu to protect the institution’s legacy.
“Please rescind the decision and allow the college to remain where it is,” he appealed. “Let it celebrate its 60th birthday at home, whole and united.”
