NASS confirms Najomo as DG of NCAA
…NCAA urges strict procurement to curb financial leakages in aviation
By Seun Ibiyemi
The National Assembly has confirmed the appointment of Capt. Chris Najomo as the Director General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
The confirmation was announced on the official X, formerly Twitter, handle of the NCAA @NigeriaCAA on Thursday.
The post read, “Capt. Chris Najomo has been confirmed by the National Assembly as substantive DG of the NCAA. Until his confirmation, Capt. Najomo served as Ag. DGCA. We wish him a successful tenure, and may civil aviation thrive under his leadership.”
Najomo was appointed the DG of NCAA in an acting capacity in December 2023 following the suspension of the former DG, Capt. Musa Nuhu by President Bola Tinubu.
Nuhu was suspended from office to enable the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to conduct a free investigation into the activities of the suspended DG and other senior officials in the NCAA.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, has urged relevant agencies in the air transport sector to embrace a procurement system that reduces financial leakages by enforcing strict compliance with due process.
Director General of the NCAA, Captain Chris Najomo, also said this was necessary because a legitimate procurement system could enhance aviation service delivery and maximise revenue for Nigeria.
Najomo, represented by the Director, Aerodrome and Airspace Standards at the NCAA, Engr. Godwin Balang, spoke at a Symposium on Proper Understanding of Procurement Process for Optimum Performance, organised by the NCAA in Lagos.
He said, “Public procurement is at the core of government efficiency and fiscal responsibility. In the aviation sector, procurement decisions affect airport infrastructure, air navigation services, safety regulations, and operational efficiency. If done right, procurement has the power to attract investment, enhance aviation service delivery, and maximize revenue for the nation.
“To support President Bola Tinubu Renewed Hope Agenda and the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo, 5-Point Agenda, we must embrace a procurement system that reduces financial leakages by enforcing strict compliance with due process.
“Encourages competition and fair bidding to attract credible investors, ensure cost-effective contracts that maximise public funds for aviation development, strengthen public-private partnerships to drive efficiency and boost revenue generation.
“Beyond compliance with local regulations, procurement in aviation must also align with global standards set by organisations such as the International Civil Aviation Organisation, ICAO, International Air Transport Association, IATA, the World Bank and other international development partners.”
Director of Corporate Services at the NCAA, Dr Rebecca Aghadinazu, who spoke at the event, said it was aimed at tackling specific structural and capacity challenges of the NCAA’s procurement process while ensuring proper implementation of the Public Procurement Act, 2007.
Aghadinazu said, “It is worthy of note that the delay in immediate startup of procurement process of capital projects in any fiscal year is majorly as a result of poor understanding of BPP approved procurement process by various participants in the procurement activities.
“The Procurement Department under the Directorate of Corporate Services has come under serious criticism due to delay in the procurement process whereas the user departments failed to perform their role in the process.
“In addition, there have been situations where the Procurement Department has been blamed for alleged procurement of inferior goods when in reality, the user department certifies the goods procured for the use of the department and not the Procurement Department.
“In view of the strategic importance of procurement activities to the authority and the need to achieve value for money, it has become necessary to educate and sensitise directorates or departments and units of their role in the procurement circle of the authority in order to achieve optimum result.”
