The Federal government of Nigeria has retained the appointment of Engineer Akin Olateru as the Commissioner of the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB). His reappointment was reconfirmed for a second tenure, extending his service after a job well done since assuming the position in 2017.
Olateru is an aircraft maintenance engineer with Nigerian, UK and USA licenses. He 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.
Similarly, Professor Bako Mansur Matazu has been appointed to fill in the position of Director General of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET) after the former DG, Professor Sani Mashi was sacked last week.
In a statement issued by the Director, Public Affairs, Ministry of Aviation, James Odaudu, it was confirmed that President Mohammadu Buhari has approved some reorganization within the Agencies under the Ministry of Aviation.
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).
Before his appointment, Matazu was the General Manager, Meteorological Research in the Agency.
President Buhari has also approved the appointment of Captain Modibbo Alkali Mahmud as the new Rector of the Nigeria College of Aviation Technology, (NCAT) Zaria, replacing the recently retired rector, Capt Abdulsalam Mohammed.
Captain Mahmud 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.
All the appointments are with immediate effect, as the reorganisation is a continuous exercise that will involve other management staff of all agencies of the Ministry.
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.
