Airline Operators in Nigeria have faced criticism for calling for the confirmation of Capt. Chris Najomo as the Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority.
In a statement signed by Vice President, Allen Onyema and spokesperson Prof. Obiora Okonkwo, the AON argued that Najomo’s administration is the best in the aviation industry.
The crisis within the NCAA has centered around the dispute over who should occupy the position of substantive Director-General of the regulatory authority.
It was gathered that tension has been brewing within the NCAA for the past nine months, now escalating, due to 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.
Before his appointment as DG, Nuhu served as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the International Civil Aviation Organization.
He had also worked at Nigeria Airways, Aero Contractors, and Petrowest, among other organizations.
However, under the new administration led by Minister for Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, Nuhu was suspended for alleged corrupt practices.
In a statement, the ministry announced that Nuhu would be handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further investigation regarding the alleged corrupt practices.
Pending the EFCC’s determination of Nuhu’s case, Najomo was appointed to take over in an acting capacity, a situation that has led to division within the NCAA workforce. Off-record discussions with some staff revealed a split: while some believe Nuhu was unfairly removed to make way for the minister’s loyalist, others argue that his replacement was necessary to bring fresh leadership to the agency.
Meanwhile, since the Nuhu case has been announced to have been transferred to the anti-graft agency, nine months ago the EFCC has not made any public statement on the matter. Sources within the EFCC hinted to our correspondent that no such case file has been sighted.
Efforts to get the official state of the investigation from the spokesperson of the EFCC, Dele Oyewale, proved abortive, as he neither picked up repeated calls from our correspondent nor responded to text messages of inquiry on the matter.
However, in their statement, the Vice President of the AON and owner of Air Peace, Allen Onyema, praised Capt. Najomo’s appointment, stating that his leadership has revolutionized the sector, ensuring the safety of aircraft and passengers while addressing key issues that airlines and airport workers prioritize.
Onyema also commended President Bola Tinubu for his wise decision to appoint Najomo, along with Minister of Aviation Festus Keyamo, whose leadership, according to Onyema, has earned Nigeria respect within the global aviation community.
He said, “This is a man who has come into the industry; he is not a novice at all. This is one of Nigeria’s finest pilots ever created under the sun, quote me, Captain Chris Najomo is one of the most proficient pilots under the sun not just Nigeria. He has paid his dues.
“Not only that, he has also paid his dues in airline management, don’t forget that he was once the Managing Director of an airline. So he knows the pains of the operators. On the other side too you need to go to NCAA. When you go to the NCAA today, the people are full of smiles because of Najomo. This is the kind of thing nobody should pray to lose. If we take it for granted we will get our fingers burnt.”
In his remarks, Obiora said “I want to say that Captain Najomo is a blessing to the aviation industry. During his citation, he was called jolly papa, that was then but today I seek your indulgence to rebaptize him as aviation papa.
“Sometimes there are appointments that are round pegs in a round hole. The problem sometimes is not about the regulations; the problem could be who is implementing the regulations. Someone might be in that office and proposing laws out of his sentiments but it is a different thing when you have somebody who is an all-rounder in the industry.”
In addition to the AON supporting Najomo, it has been learned that at least five aviation professionals, including a staff member of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, are campaigning for the position of Director-General of Civil Aviation.
Among the lobbyists for the Director-General position are a senior staff member from the Directorate of Operations, Licensing, and Training Standards of the NCAA, along with two senior staff 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 partly, “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 elevated 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.
