FG Nominates Najomo As Substantive DG NCAA

The Federal Government has nominated Capt. Chris Najomo as the substantive Director-General Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA)

Gentechnews gathered from a source close to the National Assembly, on Friday that Najomo’s name was sent to the Senate for screening and subsequent confirmation on Friday.

It was also gathered that Mr. Festus Keyamo, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development pushed for the nomination of Najomo as the substantive Director-General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), having worked with him directly for over a year.

Najomo was nominated the acting Director-General Civil Aviation (ADGCA) on December 13, 2023 when he was appointed by President Bola Tinubu when Capt. Musa Nuhu, the substantive DG was suspended from office.

When contacted for comments, Mr. Michael Achimugu, the Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, NCAA, declined to confirm the nomination of Najomo.

Achimugu directed all enquires about Najomo’s nomination to the presidency or the National Assembly.

He said: “This is not my purview. I cannot answer the question. Perhaps, the presidency or National Assembly may confirm.”

However, Najomo’s appointment as substantive Director-General has been communicated by President Bola Tinubu in a letter addressed to Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.

On 20 November 2024. the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON)  called for the confirmation of Captain Chris Najomo as the substantive Director-General, Civil Aviation, Nigeria.

The umbrella body for registered airlines in Nigeria hinged the call for confirmation of the Ag DGCA on the endorsement of the quality regulation at the NCAA describing it as the best in the world.

The spokesman of AON, and the Chairman, United Nigeria Airlines, Prof. Obiora Okonkwo stated this at the the World United Consumer Organization Maiden International Air Transport Conference with the theme: “Air Transport in Africa: Prospects and Challenges.”

AON said the NCAA under Capt. Najomo is safety-centric but without stifling airlines to stunted growth.

Prof. Obiora said AON members have experienced an ease of doing business climate they have never experienced in the industry without compromising safety and security.

He acknowledged the simplified certification processes, renewed zeal among well-motivated staff owing to the prioritisation of staff welfare, and the absence of bureaucratic red tape that hitherto plagued regulation.

In December 2024, some staff of the NCAA, joined forces to call for the confirmation of Najomo as the substantive Director-General.

The staff under the aegis of Joint Action Congress (JAC), the umbrella body of four unions in the agency in its communique issued at the end of its extra-ordinary leadership meeting, held recently, said that the confirmation of Najomo would bring stability and growth to the agency in particular and the industry in general.

The unions under JAC are Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN); National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE); Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP) and National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE).

According to the body, since Najomo’s appointment, a new culture of dignity and value for the workforce had birthed under him, stressing that this totally fits into President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.