Sack fear has gripped senior officials in aviation agencies following reports on likely reorganistion by the Aviation Ministry this week.

Sources within the aviation ministry hinted that the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, is shopping for replacement for the Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA). The agency has been without a substantive chief executive for more than a year.

It was learnt that the minister may bypass the acting Managing Director of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Mr. Mathew Lawrence Pwajok, to deploy a senior official from the ministry to take over.

Besides NAMA, sources hinted that the job erasure will also spread to the National Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), known formerly as the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB).

It was unclear whether the sweeping changes will consume the office of the NCAA Director-General, whose tenure is granted by legislation and other international instruments.

Our reporter learnt that last week’s resignation of the Director of Airworthiness Standards, Kayode Isiaka Ajiboye, has unsettled the sector.

Ajiboye resigned over the recruitment of unqualified safety inspectors into the sensitive unit of the NCAA.

The resignation will force the government to offload some personnel from the NCAA.

Captain Rabiu Yadudu was at the weekend relieved as the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) after the expiration of his tenure.

Seven out of the eight directors were also removed.

The development in FAAN has heightened anxiety among personnel in NAMA, NCAA, NSIB and the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET).

Our source hinted that besides the Chief Executive Officers of the agencies, directors they were brought in a few years ago will he shown the way out.

The looming sack will affect a directorate in NCAA, which was recently embroiled in a N2 billion fraud on infractions bordering on duty tour allowances.

The EFCC invited and quizzed key personnel, including the Director of Finance and some general managers in the Accounts/Finance unit of the regulatory agency.

The NCAA will also be in the eye of the storm because of the circumstance surrounding the issuance of Air Operators’ Certificate (AOC), to shaky start up carrier – NG Eagle Airlines.

The carrier, which was packaged by the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) , out of beleaguered Arik Air.

Sources hinted that the Ministry of Aviation is working behind the scene to use it to facilitate the controversial national carrier touted to take off before May 29, 2023.

Experts familiar with the processes of delivering a new airline say Nigeria Air is yet to secure operating aircraft, offices and workers for an airline billed to hit the skies before May 29, 2023.

Investigations reveal the NCAA does not have sufficient documentation on the carrier – in terms of the five stage process it requires to by airborne.

Last month, lawyer to indigenous carriers umbrella body -Airline Operator of Nigeria (AON): Nureini Jimoh Chambers wrote the regulator not to issue an AOC to promoters of Nigeria Air. The letter was signed by Abubakar Nuhu Ahmad.

Citing ongoing litigation, the AON said issuing the required certification to the carrier will not augur well for the country’s image.

The letter titled: “Notification of Court Orders”, hinted that it was putting NCAA on notice to save itself from available consequences of and disobedience of court orders.

Seven days to the expiration of the incumbent government, no aircraft branded in the livery of the proposed Nigeria Air has been sighted on the tarmac at any airport across the country. (The Nation)

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