In a shock announcement in the run up to the festive season, Nigeria’s President, Bola Tinubu, who assumed office in May 2023, announced a reshuffle of the country’s aviation sector, suspending several heads and officers, including the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Kabir Yusuf Mohammed.
Olubunmi Oluwaseun Kuku was officially sworn in to replace Mohammed on 18 December, with the vision of enhancing FAAN’s professionalism, improving the passenger experience and raising safety and security standards. Referencing her new role following a tour of the Lagos Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Kuku told reporters: “There is an urgency of yesterday in revving up our operations as we have fully entered the busiest season of the year for airline operations. To this end, we shall be interfacing with the various professional interests, sister agencies and partners to ensure we have smooth, safe and secure operations throughout the season.”
Having been appointed Director General of Nigeria’s Civil Aviation Authority in 2019, Captain Musa Nuhu, was also suspended in December pending investigations into his activities by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Captain Chris Najoma will serve as the Acting Director General of the regulatory body having previously held a position at the NCAA Other directors in the CAA have also been removed.
Other officers impacted by the reshuffle, included Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Tayib Adetunji Odunowo who was replaced by Umar Ahmed Farouk. Alkali Mahmud Modibbo, the Rector of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT) was also replaced by Acting Rector Joseph Shaka Imalighwe pending the appointment of a new substantive Rector. In addition President Bola Tinubu has approved a process to recruit a substantive Vice-Chancellor and other principal officers of the new African Aviation and Aerospace University (AAAU).
According to several reports in the Nigerian press, the President anticipates the reshuffle will uphold the safety, convenience and comfort of air travel for Nigerians and will address the high cost of under-performance in Nigeria’s aviation sector. President Tinubu’s directive follows the suspension of the Nigeria Air and airports concession projects at the end of August – both of which were major projects under the aviation roadmap of the preceding administration.
