BUHARI reappoints AIB Commissioner, sacks NiMET DG
Nigeria’s President Mohammadu Buhari has approved some reorganizations within the Agencies under the Ministry of Aviation in line with the administration’s commitment to implement the Aviation Development Roadmap.
The reorganization process has, so far, affected three agency chiefs in the industry, two have been replaced while one has been reappointed due to his outstanding performance.
A statement signed by the Director of Public Affairs, Ministry of Aviation, James Odaudu, said President has approved the reappointment of Engr. Akin Olateru as the Commissioner / Chief Executive Officer of the Accident Investigation Bureau, Nigeria.
Olateru, as an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer with Nigerian, UK, and USA licenses, began his career in engineering maintenance with Pan African Airlines and the Nigerian Police Air Wing after which he left Nigeria for further studies abroad.
He has also worked with multiple airlines in Europe including KLM, Martin Air in Holland, British Aerospace Engineering, and British Midland Airways.
He attended City University, London, and graduated with an M.Sc. in Air Transport Management with specializations in research and simulations into accident investigations.
Before his reappointment, Olateru had demonstrated competence and outstanding performance at the helms of the Bureau.
Under his administration, he has released 40 out of 59 reports released by the Bureau since inception and has issued 127 Safety Recommendations, more than half of the total 211 SR released since the inception of the Bureau.
The President has, also, approved the appointment of Professor Bako Mansur Matazu as the new Director-General of the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NIMET) to replace Professor Sani Abubakar Mashi.
Professor Matazu holds a Ph.D. in Geography (Applied Meteorology), with membership of the Nigerian Environmental Society, African Forestry Forum, Nigerian Meteorological Society, the Climate Change Network, Nigeria, and the renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency, Nigeria (REEN).
He was, until his appointment, the General Manager, Meteorological Research in the Agency.
Also approved by the President is the appointment of Captain Modibbo Alkali Mahmud as the new Rector of the Nigeria College of Aviation Technology, (NCAT) Zaria.
The new Rector holds the Airline Transport Pilot Licenses of the Federal Aviation Administration, USA, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Embraer, Citation, and other international professional certifications.
Until his appointment, Captain Modibbo had served in various capacities, including Pilot in Training, Fleet Captain at Dornier Aviation Nigeria, Max Air, and other organizations and has clocked about 6000 hours of a flying career.
“All the appointments are with immediate effect,” the statement said.
It added that the “reorganisation is a continuous exercise that will involve other management staff of all agencies of the Ministry.”
