President Buhari Shakes up Aviation Ministry; Four Heads of Agencies Sacked

Four heads of parastatal agencies and college in the nation’s aviation industry have been sacked, according to a government statement.

Those relieved of their jobs are the Managing Director of Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Emma Anasi, and the Director-General of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), Dr. Anthony Anuforom.

Others are; Rector of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria, Samuel Caulcrick, and Commissioner of Accident Investigation Bureau, Dr. Felix Abali.

A statement by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Transportation, Alhaji Sabiu Zakari said on Monday in Abuja that President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the sack and the appointments of new chief executive officers to run the agencies.

Fola Akinkuotu has been named the new Managing Director of NAMA. Akinkuotu is a seasoned Transport Pilot, Flight and Aircraft Maintenance Engineer, Airline Chief Executive Officer as well as a trained Aviation Industry Regulator.

Also, Prof. Sani Mashi, a professor of Geography with speciality in Environmental Application of Remote Sensing will hold sway in NiMet as Director-General.

According to the statement, Mashi is currently a Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of Abuja.

Capt. Abdulsalam Mohammed, a renowned civil aviation trainer and examiner with accreditation by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and the Federal Civil Aviation Administration, is the new Rector of NCAT, Zaria.

Similarly, Akinola Olateru, an engineer of international repute, will take over as the head of the Accident Investigation Bureau.

Olateru is a trained Air Accident Manager and Certified Safety Officer with Aircraft Maintenance Engineering licenses in Nigeria, U.S. and the United Kingdom.