Airlines criticised over call for acting NCAA DG’s confirmation
Nigerian airline operators have come under fire for pushing for Capt. Chris Najomo's confirmation as Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority.In a statement signed by Vice President Allen Onyema and spokeswoman Prof. Obiora Okonkwo, the AON said that Najomo's administration was the greatest in the aviation business.
The NCAA dilemma has revolved around the debate over who should hold the job of substantive Director-General of the regulatory authority.
Tension has been brewing within the NCAA for the past nine months and is now escalating as a result of a leadership dispute between Capt. Musa Nuhu, the substantive Director-General appointed by former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019, and Capt. Chris Najomo, who was appointed acting DG by President Bola Tinubu in January 2024.
Prior to his appointment as DG, Nuhu was Nigeria's Permanent Representative to the International Civil Aviation Organization.
He has previously worked for Nigeria Airways, Aero Contractors, and Petrowest, among other firms.
However, Nuhu was suspended by the current administration, led by Minister for Aviation and Aerospace Development Festus Keyamo, for alleged fraudulent acts.
In a statement, the ministry said that Nuhu would be turned over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further investigation into the suspected corrupt practices.
Pending the EFCC's decision on Nuhu's case, Najomo was selected to take over in an acting capacity, causing discord within the NCAA workforce. Off-the-record conversations with certain workers revealed a schism: while some believe Nuhu was unfairly ousted to make room for the minister's loyalist, others say that his departure was required to provide new leadership to the agency.
Meanwhile, nine months after the Nuhu case was declared to have been transferred to the anti-graft agency, the EFCC has not issued a public statement on the topic. According to sources within the EFCC, no such case file has been discovered.
Efforts to obtain the official status of the investigation from the EFCC's spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, proved futile, as he did not pick up repeated calls from our correspondent or respond to text messages of inquiry on the subject.
However, in their statement, Allen Onyema, Vice President of the AON and owner of Air Peace, praised Capt. Najomo's appointment, stating that his leadership has revolutionized the sector, ensuring aircraft and passenger safety while addressing key issues that airlines and airport workers prioritize.
Onyema also praised President Bola Tinubu for making the smart decision to nominate Najomo, as well as Minister of Aviation Festus Keyamo, whose leadership has gained Nigeria respect in the global aviation community.
He stated, "This is a man who has entered the industry; he is not a rookie at all. This is one of Nigeria's finest pilots ever made; quote me: Captain Chris Najomo is one of the most proficient pilots under the sun, not only in Nigeria. He paid his dues.
"Not only that, but he has paid his dues in airline management; remember, he was formerly the Managing Director of an airline. So he understands the operators' pains. On the opposite side, you must attend NCAA. When you visit the NCAA today, everyone is smiling because of Najomo. This is the kind of stuff no one should wish to lose. "If we take it for granted, our fingers will be burned."
In his remarks, Obiora stated, "I want to say that Captain Najomo is a blessing to the aviation industry." During his citation, he was referred to as jovial papa, but today I would like to rebaptize him as aviation papa.
"There are times when appointments are like round pegs in round holes. The issue is not always about the regulations; it could also be about who is enforcing them. Someone may be in that position proposing rules based on his feelings, but it's different when you have someone who is an all-rounder in the industry."
In addition to the AON's backing for Najomo, it has been revealed that at least five aviation experts, including a Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority employee, are running for the position of Director-General of Civil Aviation.
The advocates for the Director-General job include a senior staff member from the NCAA's Directorate of Operations, Licensing, and Training Standards, as well as two senior staff members from indigenous airlines.
Meanwhile, the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s 39th Session Assembly Resolution XX/1 has raised concerns about conflicts of interest and lobbying within civil aviation.
The paper reads, "Recalling the item "Consideration of Guidance on Conflicts of Interest" was added to the General Work Programme of the Legal Committee by the 37th Session of the Assembly and subsequently was endorsed by the Legal Committee, the Council, and the 38th Session of the Assembly, which raised its priority;
“Aware that under the United Nations Convention Against Corruption adopted by the General Assembly on 31 October 2003, States have the obligation to endeavour to adopt, maintain and strengthen systems that promote transparency and prevent conflicts of interest.
"Considering that ICAO guidance material identifies the need for States inter alia to establish a strategy to mitigate potential issues arising from conflicts of interest in civil aviation; and Convinced of the need for States to share information concerning policies and measures used to detect, avoid, mitigate and manage conflicts of interest in civil aviation."
Another industry expert Johnson Ojikutu expressed strong disapproval of the AON’s move, calling it an attempt to compromise safety in the aviation sector.
The expert argued that advocating for a preferred regulator could lead to a situation where the regulator overlooks operators’ wrongdoings, undermining the integrity of the regulatory process.
He said, “That is wrong. They want to compromise safety. Operators particularly the AON must desist from soliciting for their choice into the headship of the Authority on Safety, Security and Economic Regulations Oversight and Enforcement.
“This public request is a call and a choice for compromising non-compliance on Regulations. A similar act by American Airlines in the mid-90s caused the US Government to excuse Avsec from the US FAA to form the TSA when it was discov¬ered that the Airlines were the major sponsors and the Oracles of the FAA public engagements. This is an affront that has never happened in this sector in Nigeria, that is bad.”
Aviation analyst, Charles Amokwu also criticized the AON’s move, describing it as a case of “conflicts of interest” within civil aviation, further raising concerns about the potential negative impact on the sector’s integrity.
Amokwu stressed that the position of DG NCAA should be a professional, not political, appointment, warning that the AON’s call could tarnish Nigeria’s aviation industry on the global stage. He also pointed out that such open lobbying contradicts the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s 39th Session Assembly Resolution XX, which opposes conflicts of interest in civil aviation.
“Where in the world do operators determine who their regulator is going to be? That’s an open conflict of interests. If Najomo’s name is sent to the President, the President approves, he submits his name to the Senate for approval, and he sails through, what is he going to give them in return for getting him the job?
“The office of the DG is supposed to be a professional position, not political as we are seeing it now. You can go behind to lobby, not openly. There is an ICAO paper on the issue of conflict of interest and regulatory affairs of state. This is a direct conflict of interest and this would put Nigeria in a bad state in the international community.
“What we need to understand is that a nation doesn’t exist in isolation. Aviation is international and every country must comply with international standards and recommended practices. This is completely from the recommendation of ICAO. If they want to lobby, let them do it discreetly and not brazenly as they are going about it. Nigeria is a member of ICAO and we must comply with what ICAO is doing,” Amokwu insisted.
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