FG has reshuffled NCAA Directors amid corruption allegations and aircraft safety concerns.
NaijaOnPoint Nigeria reports that the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has approved a major reshuffle of senior directors within the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) amid growing concerns over alleged corruption, inefficiency, and weakened regulatory oversight in the aviation sector.
The shake-up, which affects critical directorates of the aviation regulatory agency, is widely believed to be connected to allegations of compromised operations within the Directorate of Airworthiness Standards; an arm central to ensuring aircraft safety and regulatory compliance.
The development follows recent reports by the Nigeria Safety Investigation Board (NSIB) detailing serious aircraft incidents involving unscheduled flights. On December 14 and December 16, 2025, the board released findings on two separate incidents: a Hawker 800XP aircraft that crash-landed at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport with eight persons on board, and a Cessna 172 aircraft that crashed on approach to the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, Owerri. No fatalities were recorded in either incident.
Barely a week earlier, Keyamo had confirmed awareness of circulating allegations against officials of the NCAA, stating that his ministry had received documents detailing the claims. He assured the public that a full investigation would be conducted and that its findings would be made public.
Speaking at the time, the minister expressed concern that despite the allegations being in the public domain, relevant authorities had failed to act swiftly. He stressed that as aviation minister, he would not tolerate any lapse capable of endangering air safety.
Less than seven days later, the directive for the reshuffle was issued.
The Directorate of Airworthiness Standards is regarded as one of the most powerful units within the NCAA, responsible for aircraft certification, registration, issuance of Certificates of Airworthiness, approval of Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) organisations, and enforcement of International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards. It also ensures aircraft remain airworthy throughout their operational life cycle.
However, the directorate has come under intense scrutiny following a series of aircraft incidents and allegations of regulatory lapses. These concerns were further amplified by previous accidents, including the August 1, 2023, crash of a Jabiru J430 aircraft, reportedly occurring shortly after it was issued a Special Certificate of Airworthiness under questionable circumstances.
Under the reshuffle, Godwin Balang, formerly Director of Aerodromes and Airspace Standards, has been redeployed to head the Directorate of Airworthiness Standards. Meanwhile, Alhaji Ahmad Abba, previously Director of Special Duties at the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, has been moved to oversee the Directorate of Aerodromes and Airspace Standards.
Balang formally assumed duty at his new post on Tuesday at the NCAA headquarters in Abuja. Ministry insiders described the move as a strategic intervention aimed at tightening control over a department perceived as vulnerable to procedural compromise.
“The airworthiness department is where safety either stands or collapses. When leadership is changed at that level, it is rarely accidental,” a senior ministry source said.
Reacting to the development, the minister’s media aide, Tunde Moshood, said the reshuffle was purely for administrative efficiency and not directly linked to the allegations. He added that the investigation ordered by the minister remains ongoing.
“Sometimes, administrative decisions have to be taken in the interest of effectiveness. The investigation is still ongoing,” Moshood said.