Federal government has replaced the sacked Director General of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET) Professor Sani Mashi with Professor Bako Mansur Matazu putting paid to the rumour of the former Director general’s sacking last week.
This is just as government has carried out a minor shakeup in the aviation industry by also replacing the Rector of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT) with Captain Akali Modibbo after his predecessor’s tenure expired.
Government has also reconfirmed for a second tenure, the Commissioner of the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB), Engineer Akin Olateru extending his service appointment after a meritorious job from 2017 till 2020.
The ouster of the DG NiMET had been previously reported, who, had claimed he was unaware of the removal and had said that one Prof. Matazu, a General Manager, NiMET and one other were penciled down for the NiMET top job.
A statement by the Director, Public Affairs, Ministry of Aviation, James Odaudu, confirming that President Mohammadu Buhari has approved some reorganization within the Agencies under the Ministry of Aviation reeled out the new DG’s credentials.
“Professor Matazu holds a PhD 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 organisations and has clocked about 6000 hours of flying career.
In a related development, the President has also approved the reappointment of Engr. Akin Olateru as the Commissioner / Chief Executive Officer of the Accident Investigation Bureau, Nigeria.
An Aircraft Maintenance Engineer with Nigerian, UK and USA licenses, Olateru 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.
“All the appointments are with immediate effect. It should be noted that the reorganisation is a continuous exercise that will involve other management staff of all agencies of the Ministry,” the statement read.