President Bola Tinubu, on Wednesday approved the suspension, removal, and replacement of the Chief Executive Officers under the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development.

Presidential Spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, in a statement last night explained that the action, which takes immediate effect, is in line with Tinubu’s determination to bring world-class standards to Nigerian Civil Aviation in consumer protection and the promotion of the wellbeing of Nigerian passengers and other stakeholders.

He explained that Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Kabir Yusuf Mohammed, has been removed and replaced with Mrs. Olubunmi Oluwaseun Kuku as substantive MD.

Similarly, MD of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Mr. Tayib Adetunji Odunowo, has been removed and replaced with Umar Ahmed Farouk as the substantive MD.

Director-General of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), Akinola Olateru, was replaced with Mr. Alex Badeh Jr., while Director-General of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET), Prof. Mansur Bako Matazu, has been removed and in his place Prof. Charles Anosike will serve as the substantive DG.

Rector of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Capt. Alkali Mahmud Modibbo, was replaced with Mr. Joseph Shaka Imalighwe as Acting Rector of the college, pending the appointment of a substantive Rector, in accordance with Section 13(2) of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology Act, 2022.

Also, Director-General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Capt. Musa Shuaibu Nuhu, has been 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 NCAA. In his place, Capt. Chris Najomo will assume office as the Acting Director-General of NCAA.

Meanwhile, the Federal Executive Council (FEC), on Wednesday, approved two contracts worth N6.32 billion for the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development.

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, while briefing newsmen after the Council, disclosed that the approvals were for the main ministry and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA).

Keyamo said, the first contract involving technical support services at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos, was cost at N4.1 billion, while the second one, sited at the Port Harcourt International Airport, involving the fixing of some navigational equipment, was cost at N2.23 billion.

“Basically, the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development presented two memos; one from the main ministry and another one from one of its agencies, which is NAMA. The first memo is actually a Technical Support Services contract with the CCECC, the Chinese company that built the new international wing of our airport in Lagos and of course the other four airports across the country.

“So, from the word go, we have struck a deal with the same people who builds the place. It’s only natural that they are the same ones who should maintain their facilities for the first five years. That is what this technical support service contract is. For the first five years.

“We have said that they should maintain their chillers, the air handling units, the passenger boarding bridge, the escalators at the concourse, the remote boarding lifts that were specifically made for the physically challenged, and all those facilities they put there.

“It is for five years, the first five years for a contract sum of N4.1 billion, inclusive of 7.5% VAT, with a completion period of five years. So it says for the comfort of the traveling public, for Nigerians and for the enjoyment of the traveling public. So that is the first memo we presented and it was approved by Council.

“The second memo has to do with some navigational equipment at the Port Harcourt International Airport. The equipment really are for communication, they call them the VHF FM radios, remote access devices and other accessories for the wide area multilateration air traffic management system at Port Harcourt.

“We are purchasing these equipments for Port Harcourt International Airport at the sum of N2,227,721,091, inclusive of 7.5% VAT, with a delivery period of nine months and it has been awarded in favor of a company that is actually the representative of one of the best companies in the world that produce such communication equipment for the aviation sector”, he said.

Meanwhile, the Council has also decided to take another look at the issue of waivers being granted on duties in the country.

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, who made the disclosure explained that the Council decided to review the decision on waivers so as to minimize revenue losses.

“There is also the issue of other economic policies that were discussed at Council today. Of note is the issue of waiver, in addition to so many other decisions taken. You’ll recall that Customs has reported that in 2023 alone, they’ve lost over N1.3 trillion to waivers.

“Council has decided to look at those waivers and review them so that Nigeria will not continue to lose money at a point that we all need these resources for the development of the of the country,”he said.