The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has pushed back against allegations levelled against Capt. Chris Najomo, as the Aviation Industry looks forward to his confirmation as the substantive Nigeria’s Director General Civil Aviation Authority (DGCAA).
The Director Public Affairs and Consumer Protection Directorate of the Agency, Mr. Chris Achimugu, in a swift reaction to a purported sponsored article kicking against the confirmation of Najomo as NCAA’s Director General (DG), described the move as lame, desperate and last-ditch to cut off the expectations of the industry.
He went ahead to counter the allegations, as well as reeled out Najomo’s in just one year as the Acting DGCAA.
Achimugu said: “My attention has just been drawn to a lame, desperate and obviously sponsored last-ditch attempt by the famed “puff-puff experts” (apologies to Honourable Minister Festus Keyamo SAN) to truncate the confirmation of Capt. Chris Najomo as substantive DG, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA.
“The poorly written article purportedly signed by one Kolade Hassan and Sy Mohammed, attempts to ridicule the person, character, and competence of Capt. Chris Najomo, an industry icon who has put in over four decades of premium service to the industry as one of Nigeria’s best pilots.”
The Direct stated that Najomo has served meritoriously as Ag. DGCA since December 2023 and under his leadership, the NCAA has attained glorious heights hitherto thought impossible.
“But he has had to ensure a turbulent first year in office as shady characters fighting to retain control of the corruption that once pervaded the Authority, have deployed all manners of subterfuge to have Najomo removed at all cost,” he maintained.
“First, they came with allegations that the man had paid two hundred and fifty million naira to purchase an official vehicle without recourse to procurement processes. When that plot was blown out of the water, this rabid group resorted to all shades of blackmail, sponsored false narratives, among other tactics just to achieve their selfish aims,” he reiterated.
The Director took the allegations one by one and cleared the air on each of them.
Allegation that Najomo ‘….May have declared himself as DG-NCAA in a very boastful manner without presidential pronouncement and Senate confirmation.’
He said this allegation is based on a video where Najomo can be heard introducing himself in a meeting with the following words, ‘My name is Capt. Chris Najomo, Director-General, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority.’
Achimugu explained that there is nothing in the video that mentions his confirmation or otherwise. “The DGCA is called Jolly Papa for a reason. He is very charismatic and ebullient. He has always introduced himself the same way in internal meetings.
“As usual, I will challenge these faceless “elders” to provide evidence of Najomo pronouncing himself as substantive DG NCAA.
“The NCAA official social media handles have said nothing about the topic of the DGCA’s status. Not even the Spokesman of the Authority has spoken to the media about it. I will waste no further energy on this point.”
On the second allegation pointing to Safety, Achimugu queried, “how can anyone claim that a Capt. Chris Najomo who just completed the NCAA’s Flight Data Centre commissioned by the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, does not care about safety?
“They wrote, “….what elders see sitting down cannot be seen by a child even if he climbs the tallest tree.”
He challenged how the elders who destroyed civil aviation in Nigeria claim to possess the magic wand to fix what they destroyed.
The NCAA Spokesman pointed out that Najomo has had a more storied career than majority of the industry, therefore cannot be referred to as a child.
“A 65 year old pilot, airline administrator, two-time director at the NCAA, and Ag. DGCA for a year now, that these guys with nothing more than their Nigeria Airways mentality are calling an infant?”
For all of the talk about safety, he noted that not a single commercial plane has crashed under Najomo’s leadership.
“In fact, it was Najomo who suspended Dana Air for poor financial health which was impeding it’s ability to operate safely. That’s a man who cares about the safety of passengers.
“As for the unfortunate helicopter crash, we will not preempt the NSIB. When their report is released, we will be able to make comments.
“Runway excursions happen globally, and is not a sign of incompetence of any CAA. Nigeria is not in the top 15 nations when it comes to air mishaps. These so-called elders did not blame the American FAA for the helicopter crash that killed Nigeria’s Hebert Wigwe.
“They did not blame the FAA for the chopper crash that killed famous basketball star, Kobe Bryant.
“They didn’t even blame Canadian Authorities when, on December 29, 2024, an Air Canada Flight AC2259 suffered suspected landing gear issues, or the Korean Authorities for the fatal crash of Jeju Air’s flight 2216 after a bird strike, a crash that killed almost 200 people,” he cited.
“They only blame the NCAA when it serves their sinister purposes.
Achimugu maintained that these men, whoever they are, do not mean the industry well.
He asked rhetorically: “Is it possible that these elders know better than actual industry operators who recently called for the confirmation of Capt. Chris Najomo as DGCA?
“Are they more altruistic than the aviation unions who also called for this confirmation? Whose interest do these old men represent? It can only be theirs.”
Achimugu dismissed the third claim that the NCAA has a target of 224 days for resolving customer complaints as a lie from the pit of hades.
“The longest timeframe for refund of ticket purchases is 14 days as captured in Part 19 of the NCAA Regulations 2023.
“Under Najomo’s leadership, the Consumer Protection Department of the NCAA has achieved the highest volume of passenger refunds and compensations in its entire history.
“It also had the highest number of stakeholder engagements in the history of the Authority.
“Capt. Najomo launched a first-of-its-kind consumer complaints portal for seamless resolution of cases, and to ensure accurate collation, storage, and dissemination of data.
“Is this why the elders are angry?
“Why did they not achieve these milestones during their time in charge of the Authority? He asked.
“You cannot resolve 2025 problems with a 1980 mentality.
“Najomo is too digital for their analogue settings. It is a fact that, what people can’t achieve, they detest,” Achimugu retorted.
He noted that the NCAA is now a more visible entity and the level of interactions being had with the general flying public on social and traditional media is unprecedented.
Among other major achievements, the image maker further said that Najomo has ensured that the process of licensing operators is seamless.
“Processes that used to last an eternity under the elders now takes two to three months to complete.
“That is why Najomo’s mantra is, EASE OF DOING BUSINESS WITHOUT COMPROMISING STANDARDS.
“AON, the umbrella body for airline operators in Nigeria, have affirmed that the Authority has fulfilled all of its obligations to the industry,” he recalled.
Achimugu asked: “How come the elders who pretend to love the industry were the same ones who held onto staff entitlements for years, causing great suffering to thousands of families?
“What manner of expertise allows you to owe workers for years?
He declared that it can only be puff-puff expertise, stating that since Najomo came on board, he has cleared the backlog of allowances owed to the staff.
This, the image maker noted has created a better working environment and more productive workforce.
“The man knows how to administer and motivate,” he averred
He affirmed that the confirmation of a DGCA rests only with the Honourable Minister, the President, and the National Assembly.
Achimugu assured that the Ag. DGCAA, the management and staff of the NCAA are focused on performing their duties to the industry and Nigeria.
“We will not be distracted by the antics of a few disgruntled elements whose vitriol can only be considered the last kicks of drowning horses who are angry to see their legacy of incompetence sink into the abyss where it belongs.
“Najomo is driving President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda well,” the NCAA Spokesman declared further.