The director general of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Capt Chris Najomo was on Friday honoured with Aviation Lifetime Achievement Award and Aviation Leadership Achievement Award (in the Strategic Leadership Category) at the 14th Nigeria Aviation (NIGAV) Award and Ministerial Dinner held in Lagos.
Spokesman for the NCAA, Mr Michael Achimugu disclosed this in a statement in Sunday.
The statement quoted the chairman and founder of NIGAV, Mr. Fortune Idu as saying that Najomo had served the country’s aviation industry meritoriously in different capacities and affirmed that “it is fitting that he is now at the helm of affairs of the regulatory agency where he oversees the rebirth of a new order in regulatory oversight of the industry.”
Idu further described the director general as a “quintessential personality” who, right from his youth, decided to serve the aviation sector and worked assiduously in different areas.
“These awards are fitting for Najomo because from his youthful age under the tutelage of his father who was a great aviator himself, he carved out his career for himself as a young man.
“That he has turned around the fortune of the NCAA brand that has earned global accolades was the result of his foresight and experience of many years in the industry.
“The NCAA has no doubt become one of Nigeria’s iconic brands across the world in just over one year of his outstanding leadership,” Idu added.
Also speaking, the chairman of NIGAV Award Committee and former managing director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mr. Richard Aisuebeogun said Najomo’s confirmation as the substantive director general of the NCAA “promises a more stable civil aviation authority capable of effectively ensuring the airworthiness and safety of aircraft.”
“The director general has empowered the NCAA’s consumer protection directorate to intensify efforts to address passenger complaints, including high fares, flight delays and cancellations as a means to bolster travellers’ confidence in Nigerian airlines,” he said.
Aisuebeogun added: “The NCAA began reviewing the various critical procedures in 2024 to enhance its technical and economic oversight of the industry, aiming for better efficiency and reduced bottlenecks in licensing process. The NCAA initiated a review of the industry master plan with ICAO to rebuild confidence.”
For his part, Achimugu said the director general “deserves much more because he has spent his whole life in this industry and even now as director general, civil aviation, he works round the clock to ensure that we get everything right and on time.
“His leadership skills and man management ability are part of the secret that has galvanised the staff to achieve the outstanding results you see at the NCAA”
Also speaking, the regional manager, NCAA, Lagos Regional office, Mr Bukola Teriba said the awards are testaments to the revolution that has taken place in the civil agency in the last 16 months.
“Seeing is believing. The industry has seen and is seeing the transformation in the regulatory activities…and the metamorphosis in the way we do business. That tells you that astute leadership quality of the director general.
“The awards are encouragement to us his staff and indicative that we are on the right track and must continue to do better and greater in the years ahead,” he declared.
