Analysing the performance of Capt. Chris Najomo, the acting Director General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (DGCAA) has come with much nostalgia among stakeholders who have poured in commendations in his just one year in office, calling for his confirmation as the substantive DGCAA.
Najomo is an astute skilled pilot and airline professional with a vast experience within and outside the country that has impacted the Nigerian aviation industry.
Appointed last year by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Barrister Festus Keyamo, as the Acting DGCAA, Najomo’s expertise has reflected positively and holistically on the industry.
In one year as the NCAA’s helmsman he has explored a number of strategic initiatives that yielded key achievements bordering on infrastructure, safety, effective regulatory framework, stakeholders engagement and welfare of the workforce.
Najomo at one of the aviation fora last year said: “Upon my assumption of office, I had two clear mandates: to uphold the Minister’s five-point agenda and President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, by strengthening the NCAA’s role in the industry, particularly focusing on supporting local airline businesses while enforcing international standards.”
The achievements include the Ease of Doing Business in the industry, removal of Nigeria from unofficial blacklisting, unveiling of NCAA Consumer Protection Portal, the launch of NCAA Flight Data Centre (FDC) and the Directorate of Air Transport Regulation (DATR) Electronic Portal (E-Portal) among other achievements.
Ease of Doing Business
Najomo’s expertise and achievements have facilitated the Ease of Doing Business for operators and others connected to the air transport eco-system without compromising standards mantra, in so much so that stakeholders affirmed that their operations have received ease occasioned on removal of bureaucratic bottlenecks by Najomo.
Vice Chairman Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), Dr. Allen Onyema, affirmed: “Captain Najomo has zero tolerance for anything unsafe, let me tell you that, so when he is talking about ease of doing business in aviation he is not talking about allowing us to go scout free with blue murder, even there are evidences, this post arrival inspections, when you bring the aircraft into the country, when they come and they inspect it and it didn’t meet regulatory requirements they send those aircraft back, he has done that.
“So what he is trying to do is to make sure Nigeria does not lose so much money so he has made inspections of aircraft seamless for us and saved us a humongous sum of money.
Also the Spokesman of AON, Prof. Obiora Okonkwo, added: “I can attest to that. Recently I had an encounter with him, I called him around 12 midnight and he was in Turkey, that should be about 2a.m. in Turkey and I said sir, I have a machine that I must bring into Nigeria. I needed a document for a landing for a chartered flight, in less than one hour he sent me the landing permit. I could not believe it.
“What he stopped actually is not anything that threatens safety and procedures but what he battled with is the bureaucracy in government. On the side of the operators, we meet all our requirements. He is not somebody who will compromise with the issue of safety. You know what bureaucracy does to this country, so as an operator if we tell them I want to do this or that in 30 days, they ask you why it should not be done in less than one week.”
Blacklisting:
At the assumption of office, one of the major steps Najomo took was to remove Nigeria out of an unofficial blacklisting.
On this, Onyema said: “How do you explain taking the entire industry out of unofficial blacklisting? All the bigger airlines, the legacy airlines of this world, all those hundreds and thousands of aircraft they have are financed, they don’t really owe them. All they do is call on Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) and say we need this number of aircraft.”
Introduction of NCAA Consumer Protection Portal:
On September 19, 2024, the NCAA unveiled its Consumer Protection Portal, an initiative aimed at addressing passengers’ complaints in their interface with airlines and aviation agencies.
Speaking at the event, Najomo said the new portal will play a pivotal role in ensuring that air travellers are better informed and empowered to address grievances.
Signing of IDERA Agreement:
In compliance with the Cape Town Convention (CTC), on October 16, 2024, Najomo officially signed the Irrevocable Deregistration and Export Request Authorisation (IDERA) and Registration of Aircraft under IDERA.
Launch of DATR E-Portal:
On December 2, 2024 the NCAA unveiled the Directorate of Air Transport Regulation (DATR) Electronic Portal (E-Portal), marking a major step toward modernising aviation processes.
Najomo, in his opening remarks at the launch held in Abuja described the E-Portal as a single-window platform designed to modernise and streamline the processes and operations of the DATR.
According to the Director of DATR, Mrs. Olayinka Babaoye-Iriobe, the Portal offers features like process optimisation, data centralisation, real-time tracking, and improved transparency, aiming to enhance efficiency, foster innovation, and improve stakeholder operations in Nigeria’s aviation sector.
The Flight Data Centre:
The NCAA Flight Data Centre (FDC) commissioned on December 11, 2024, is an aviation safety standards initiative that aligns with global best practices.
Commissioned in Abuja by Keyamo, the FDC aims at improving aviation safety oversight, proactively detecting potential risks, and enabling data-driven decision-making to prevent serious incidents.
Automation of processes:
In the world of digitilisation, it is no more a gainsay that Najomo with the various introductions has transformed the industry from the slow analogue ways of doing business to an automated speedy and accurate process. The results obviously have been enormous.
Staff welfare:
In all these, Najomo did not take the welfare of the workforce for granted, knowing that a hungry man is an angry man. Hence, he has paid close attention to staff welfare with a record of offsetting all the outstanding salaries.
Stakeholders confirmation and clarion call:
Various stakeholders in the industry have not only confirmed Najomo’s productivity and superlative performance but have also called on the government to confirm him as the substantive Director General of NCAA.
The duo of Onyema and Okonkwo, said the airliners passed a vote of confidence on Najomo when they spoke separately at the International Air Transport Conference where they eulogised the former pilot and described his administration as the best that ever happened in the industry
“This is a man who has come into the industry; he is not a novice at all. Not only that, he has also paid his dues in airline management, don’t forget that he was once the Managing Director of an airline. So he knows the pains of the operators.
“On the other side too you need to go to NCAA. When you go to the NCAA today, the people are full of smiles because of Najomo. This is the kind of thing nobody should pray to lose. If we take it for granted we will get our fingers burnt.”
According to him, “the AON of which I am a leader is affirming today that the regime of Najomo has brought the ease of doing business to the fore and we are all enjoying it in the aviation industry today.
“I am speaking as AON not as Air Peace or Allen Onyema now. We have complete trust in him; we are enjoying what he has done. As one of the leaders of AON I get reports, everybody is singing good things about the industry.
“The appointment of Captain Najomo is a square peg in a square hole, we can attest to that and we thank Mr. President for restoring the ease of doing business in aviation.”
On his part, Obiora said: “I want to say that Captain Najomo is a blessing to the aviation industry. During his citation, he was called jolly papa, that was then but today I seek your indulgence to rebaptise him as aviation papa.
“Sometimes there are appointments that are round pegs in a round hole. The problem sometimes is not about the regulations; the problem could be who is implementing the regulations.
“Someone might be in that office and proposing laws out of his own sentiments but it is a different thing when you have somebody who is an all rounder in the industry.”
Also the alumni of the Airline Training Institute (ATI) in San Carlos, California, USA, while commending Najomo’s performance as the Ag. DGCAA in the last one year described him as a highly skilled professional perfect for the role of the director general of the NCAA.
“The Airline Training Institute alumni proudly stand behind one of our own, Captain Chris Onajeke Najomo, in support of his confirmation as NCAA Director General. His competence, dedication, and outstanding contributions to the aviation industry make him the ideal leader for this position.
“Captain Najomo has the expertise and vision to take the NCAA to new heights. His confirmation as Director General will not only benefit Nigeria but also set a new standard for aviation excellence in the region,” the alumni group said.
Capping it all, the Director Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at NCAA, Mr. Michael Achimugu, on his X handle said: “In the most recent future and it won’t be long the aviation industry will acknowledge that it owes this man a debt of gratitude. This is because of the initiatives he has birthed and continues to drive for the aviation sector. Part of which is the Ease of Doing Business without compromising standards mantra.
“This, he has executed in the NCAA in just one year in office as Acting Director General with the concomitant immeasurable impact.
“I am an apostle of praising people while they are still alive to enjoy applause for their good work.
“Dear Capt. Chris Najomo, as you mark one year in office, I celebrate the milestones you have achieved, and the courage with which you have taken on the challenges which you inherited.
“It does not matter how the future plays out, you already proved your mettle. You have automated most of our processes. The flight data center is a huge step in preventing accidents and collating data. The Consumer Protection Department owes its rejuvenation to your support and vision.
“The DATR portal is a loud statement about your intentions, as has been your ability to pay workers what was unjustly owed them for years, despite budget provisions and approvals.”
Continuing he said: “You historically signed the IDERA and cut down the alleged corruption of inspections by allowing aircraft to be inspected in Nigeria.
“The NCAA in particular and the aviation industry in general, owe you flowers for ensuring that Nigeria achieved an admirable score in the last audit.
“As more aircraft come into Nigeria, airlines will be better equipped to serve passengers and there will be less disruptions. I know how strategically you have been trying to fix the issues that cause high airfares.
“There is so much I could say, but I will stop here for now.
“Congratulations, dear DGCA. It’s been an honour working with you.”
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