Concerns are mounting among stakeholders about the safety of Nigeria’s aviation sector, prompting calls for decisive action from President Bola Tinubu to “wield the big hammer” and reform the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
Under the banner of Aviation Elders, these stakeholders expressed heightened unease over the prolonged delay in appointing a substantive Director General (DG) for the NCAA.
In a statement released on the 26th of January, 2025, signed by coordinators Kolade Hassan and Sy Mohammed, they painted a troubling picture of regulatory lapses and safety failures within the sector.
Recalling alarming incidents, the group noted that “two aircraft engines failed in some local airlines last month, with a cargo airline overshooting the runway,” which they described as “a clear evidence of lack of safety regulatory compliance by the operators and the NCAA.”
They added that while the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) is set to release a report on the matter, some stakeholders are allegedly pushing for Captain Chris Najomo’s confirmation as DG, “at the expense of the sector.”
Citing further tragedies, including a helicopter crash that claimed the lives of two crew members and six NNPC staff weeks ago, they questioned the NCAA’s ability to guarantee safety for oil workers.
“The IOC, such as Shell, Total, Chevron, and NNPC are not even sure if the NCAA can guarantee the safety of their oil workers going forward,” the statement read.
The Aviation Elders also highlighted the Nigerian Safety and Investigation Bureau’s (NSIB) previous indictment of the NCAA over the Sikorsky SK76c helicopter crash on the 24th of October, 2024, describing the incident as one of many regulatory failings.
“Is this what Nigeria has become? We elders in aviation are worried and have reached out to the powers that be. Something has to happen to save Nigeria from this international embarrassment,” they declared.
Turning to the controversy surrounding the NCAA’s leadership, the group urged President Tinubu to address the claims that the acting DG, Captain Chris Najomo, has been reappointed.
“The Acting DG NCAA may have declared himself as DG-NCAA in a very boastful manner without presidential pronouncement and Senate confirmation,” they alleged.
They expressed skepticism about the role of the Aviation Minister, accusing him of supporting Najomo’s confirmation based on personal ties.
“It is true that the Aviation Minister is genuinely interested in having a substantial DG for the NCAA, but doing so by showing support for the Acting DG who happened to be his uncle from Delta State looks questionable,” they stated.
They warned against allowing personal interests to override national priorities, emphasizing that “for us to achieve the aviation that meets the global standard, it’s always key we discard personal interests and put Nigeria first.”
Asserting that safety must be the ultimate goal of all administrators, the Aviation Elders urged the President and his team to resist undue pressures.
“The safety of our people should be prioritized and should be the primary objective of all administrators as against politicization of positions. We are optimistic that President Bola Tinubu and his team will not allow this desperation to overwhelm them and succumb to the desires of those desperate to keep the industry in their pockets,” they concluded.