The Federal Government has reshuffled key directors at the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) amid allegations of corruption and regulatory lapses in the agency’s Directorate of Airworthiness Standards. The move was announced following several recent aircraft incidents that raised concerns over aviation safety.
The reshuffle, effected under the directive of Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo, comes after reports from the Nigeria Safety Investigation Board highlighted crashes involving unscheduled aircraft. On December 14, 2025, a Hawker 800XP with eight people on board crash-landed at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport due to a landing gear fault. Two days later, a Cessna 172 crashed on approach at Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport in Owerri, though all four occupants survived.
Keyamo had previously confirmed awareness of rumors alleging misconduct within the NCAA and vowed to investigate the claims. “As Minister of Aviation, I cannot allow anything that would threaten air safety under my watch,” he told ThisDay newspaper.
The Directorate of Airworthiness Standards, responsible for certifying and maintaining civil aircraft and ensuring compliance with International Civil Aviation Organisation rules, has been under scrutiny for alleged procedural compromises. Past incidents, including a 2023 crash involving a Jabiru J430 aircraft shortly after receiving a Special Certificate of Airworthiness, intensified calls for intervention.
Under the reshuffle, Godwin Balang, formerly Director of Aerodromes and Airspace Standards, has been moved to head Airworthiness Standards, while Alhaji Ahmad Abba, ex-Director of Special Duties at the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, now leads the Directorate of Aerodromes and Airspace Standards. Balang assumed office on Tuesday at NCAA headquarters in Abuja.
A ministry source described the reshuffle as a strategic move to strengthen oversight, saying, “The airworthiness department is where safety either stands or collapses. When leadership is changed at that level, it is rarely accidental.”
Tunde Moshood, media aide to Keyamo, said the changes were aimed at administrative efficiency and confirmed that the minister’s investigation into alleged irregularities is ongoing.
The reshuffle signals a tighter focus on aviation safety in Nigeria, as authorities work to restore confidence in regulatory oversight and prevent lapses that could endanger lives.
