NIGERIA – Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of Capt. Musa Nuhu as the new Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority.
According to a statement issued in Abuja in October by the Director, Public Affairs, Federal Ministry of Aviation, James Odaudu, the NCAA boss replaces Capt. Muktar Usman, the erstwhile DG of the organisation.
“Nuhu, who until his appointment was Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the International Civil Aviation organisation, is an airline pilot, a safety expert, a quality assurance lead auditor as well as an artificial intelligence expert,” revealed the statement.
According to the statement the new NCAA boss holds an MSc in Aviation Business and was at the Presidential Air Fleet as a captain and safety officer.
He also worked at various times at the defunct Nigeria Airways, Aero Contractors and Petrowest, among other organisations.
In a related development, Buhari also approved the appointment of Mahmoud Sani Ben-Tukur as Nigeria’s new Permanent Representative to the International Civil Aviation Organisation.
“With over 24 years of work in the aviation industry, Ben-Tukur possesses extensive knowledge and experience in Aviation Safety and Quality Management Systems.
He also has knowledge of ICAO Standard and Recommended Practices and Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations,” the FMA said.
He was until his appointment the Technical Adviser to the Minister of Aviation.
Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority is the regulatory body for aviation in Nigeria.
NCAA was established by decree 49 of 1999, and enstrusted with regulating, monitoring and promotion of the safety, security, economic and reliability of air navigation oversight in line with International Civil Aviation organisation (ICAO) standard and recommended practices (SARPs).
The Authority effectively commenced operations on 1st January 2000 and oversees Nigeria’s twenty (20) airports and many regulated airstrips and heliports.
It is also in charge of 23 active domestic airlines; 554 licensed pilots; 913 licensed engineers and 1700 cabin personnel.
NCAA is also in charge of an airspace that is serviced by over 22 foreign carriers and over 91 Bilateral Air Services Agreements with other countries.