The Senate has confirmed Capt Chris Najomo as substantive Director General and Chief Executive of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA)
This was contained in a X post on social media by the NCAA in its official handle and another post by Michael Achimugu, the NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) , the confirmation followed the adoption of the report presented by the senate committee on aviation during plenary on Thursday.
On December 13, 2023, President Bola Tinubu suspended Musa Nuhu from his role as the DG of the NCAA.Following his suspension, Nuhu was replaced by Najomo, who was appointed as the acting DG.
Presenting the report, the committee’s chairman, Buhari Abdulfatai, said Najomo was thoroughly screened and found suitable for the appointment.
“This is due to his vast experience and outstanding contributions in the aviation industry,” he said.
Abdulfatai urged the senate to approve the recommendations of the committee for confirmation and appointment of Najomo as NCAA’s DG.
Supporting the nomination, Mohammed Monguno, a member of the upper chamber, noted that although he was not a member of the aviation committee, Najomo’s credentials were impressive, and there were no adverse security reports against him.
Following deliberations, the senate approved the committee’s recommendation and confirmed Najomo’s appointment as NCAA’s DG.
As Acting DG of NCAA, Najomo has championed radical reforms in the nation’s aviation regulation space promoting safety and fairness in his duty as head of the industry’s ombudsman
Under his watch the NCAA sanctioned airlines who failed to adhere to safety standards and strictly upheld passenger rights for local and international flights
Coming with over four decades of aviation experience, Najomo had served as a pilot and top administrator as a ground staff member
He has consistently demonstrated exceptional dedication and capacity in various roles throughout his career. His extensive qualifications, vast experience, and unwavering commitment to aviation excellence makes him a valuable asset to the NCAA
With a total of 24,000 flying hours from 30 years of career, he has flown B727, BACI – II, SE210, CE550, EMB120, B737 (600-900s) and Airbus 330.
He is the immediate past Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, NCAA. He previously served as
the Director, Air Transport Regulation (2022 to 2023).
Before joining the NCAA, Capt. Najomo was the Chief Pilot at Arik Air (2021 to 2022), Line Captain Arik Air, 2008 to 2017. He was NCAA’s Designated Examiner: B727; T.R.E, EMB120 (2007 to 2008).
The DGCA was a onetime Managing Director/CEO, Capital Airline (2005 to 2007) and the Director, FLTOPS, Al’Barkar Airline – Abuja, 2004 to 2005.
He began his career with an Air Traffic Control Assistant Course in 1980 at the Federal Civil Aviation Authority Training School – Lagos. He would later obtain his C.P.L/IRMEL from the Airline Training Institute, California, USA.
Capt. Najomo is type-rated on several aircraft. He got a CE550 Rating in 1984 at American Eagle Aviation – California, USA, the SF210 Type- Rating, Aviation, (1984) at the Point Airline – Orly, France, BAC I-II Type (1985), Rating Held in Dublin, Ireland, B727 Type Rating in Pittsburgh, USA, 1994, A.T.P.L Type Rating, (1989) Pegasus Training Centre – Texas, USA. Others include B727 Type Rating, 1994 USAIR – Pittsburgh, USA, B737 NG-600 – 900 Type Rating, Luton, UK, 2006, B 120 Type Rating Held in Paris, 2006 and AIRBUS 330 Type Rating, Aviation, 2013 AIRBUS Training Center, – Miami, USA, UK.
Other certificates include; FLT Safety International, 2004, SIMCENTRE, Le – Miami, Paris, USA, EMB 120 Panel and Instructor Course-TRE, 2007, C.R.M Curriculum; FUNDERMENTALS of Instruction Cur, 2004
SIMCENTRE, – Miami, USA, USA, E.M.B 120 Type Rating; EMB 120 Panel and Instructor, 2006 to 2007, B737 NGRE Qualification Course, Aviation, 2017, CTC Training Centre, – Southhampton, UK, and FLORIDA Light Sport Aviation Academy – USA.
Other certifications include: IATA Certificate, IATA Law of Aviation Insurance, Law of Aviation Insurance, 07/2023 to 08/2023, IATA Training Centre – London, UK, IATA Certificate, Transport Economics, Transport Economics, 07/2023 to 08/2023, IATA Training Centre – London, UK and IATA Certificate, Airline Financial Mgt. UK, Airline Financial Mgt., 07/2023 to 08/2023, IATA Training Centre – London, UK.
He has bagged several awards and recognitions within and outside the aviation industry
