By Our Reporter
ABUJA (Precise Post) – Foremost pressure group with special interest in Aviation, National Association of Aviation Progressives (NAAP), has lauded the appointment of Captain Chris Najomo, as the substantive Director General (DG) of Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
President Bola Tinubu had on Tuesday, written to the Nigerian Senate, urging that Najomo be confirmed as substantive DG of the agency.
In a letter addressed to the Senate President and read on the floor of the Read chamber on Tuesday, Tinubu urged lawmakers to expedite action on the confirmation process in accordance with the Civil Aviation Act of 2022.
Najomo was first appointed as Acting DG of the NCAA in December, 2023, when Capt. Musa Shuaibu Nuhu was suspended from office by President Tinubu.
In a statement signed on Wednesday by the President of Aviation Progressives, Engr. Gideon Ogar and Secretary, Chief Aderibigbe Alao; the group acknowledged the laudable achievements of Najomo since he was appointed in acting capacity, saying, he would surpass the expectations of Nigerians, when given the full power to operate.
The group, made up of mainly aviation experts, appreciate President Tinubu for nominating Najomo as substantive DG, calling on the Senate to expedite action to confirm him, “as a matter of national importance”.
“For President Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to have nominated him for the substantive position of a Director General, means he acknowledged the many good works he has been doing at the NCAA since 2013 December.
“It means our dear President and other critical stakeholders acknowledged his good work and believe in him. We have also monitored the activities around that space since he became the acting DG. We are aware of why the former DG was suspended and we know the level of sanity, decorum, transparency and quality services Captain Chris Najomo brought to bear.
“His stern leadership qualities and insistence on operational services that align with global best practices, has not only reduced corruption and tragedy, it has also helped in stamping Nigeria’s aviation system in the global map of reckoning. None could have done it better.
“We, at National Association of Aviation Progressives (NAAP) wholeheartedly welcome the appointment of Captain Chris Najomo as substantive DG of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority. We appreciate the President for this great step and we urge the Nigerian Senate to make his confirmation a top priority for the nation”, the statement reads in part.
The group expressed confidence in Najomo’s ability to lead the regulatory agency, emphasizing that his nomination aligns with efforts of President Tinubu to strengthen the nation’s aviation sector.
As Director General, Najomo will be responsible for overseeing safety regulations, industry compliance, and policy implementation within the NCAA, a crucial agency in Nigeria’s aviation sector.
…. Seeks fresh bidding
By Our Reporter
ABUJA (Precise Post) – The Minister of Aviation and Aero Space Development, Festus Keyamo (SAN), declared in Abuja on Wednesday that his Ministry has rejected outrageous contract variation of N532billion from N90billion awarded to contractor handling the 2nd runway of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
Keyamo who stated this while fielding questions from federal lawmakers during budget defence session with the National Assembly joint Committee on Aviation , said the contract has been revoked for fresh bidding by interested contractors .
He said : “After N3.4billion post contract consultancy fee paid to contractor handling the project in May 2023, N90billion was later paid in the same year for the whole contract out of which N30billion was released.
“The contractor after receiving the N30billion and joined the federal capital territory Administration to compensate some settlers on the affected land, left the site .
“All efforts made thereafter to get the contractor back to site proved abortive on the grounds of unacceptable contract variation being demanded for .
“The contractor in question , is demanding for contract variation of N532billion from the original sum of N90billion the contract was awarded for.
“To us in the Ministry , the said variation is nothing but fraud , leaving us with no option than to cancel the contract and call for fresh bids.”
Members of the committee also asked the Minister why the N36billion owed workers of the defunct Nigeria Airways was not reflected in the Ministry’s 2025 budget for required payment .
The Minister in his response said payment for the N36billion has been shifted to the Ministry of Finance since the money is not meant for capital project.
“The affected pensioners would soon get their dues from the Ministry of Finance and not from the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development. I met with leaders of the joint unions on this in November last year and they agreed to arrangement put on ground”, he said .
He however disagreed with suggestion made by some members of the committee that establishment of Aerospace University across the six geo – political zones should be discontinued since there is one in Zaira , Kaduna State already .
According to him, as the Nigeria College of Aviation Technology (NCAT) was established in 1964 , so also was the Nigeria Law School established in Lagos .
“While the Nigeria Law School has been decentralized , the Aviation College in Zaria has not been properly followed suit , which the Aerospace Universities are aimed at “, he said .
He thereafter presented the 2025 budgetary proposal of the Ministry to the committee which according to him, is N71.13billion, out of which N69.2billion is earnarked for capital projects, N1.147billion for personnel cost and N745.7million for overhead .
However the joint committee through its Chairman, Senator Abdulfatai Buhari (APC Oyo North), told the Minister that approval would be given the budgetary proposal after submission of full details on state of 124 projects being executed by the Ministry .
“Historical background and current status of all the ongoing projects being executed by the ministry are needed as requested for by this committee, latest by next week for approval of the presented Budget proposals “,he said.
