The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has approved a reshuffle of key directors at the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) amid allegations of corruption, inefficiency, and weakened regulatory oversight within the agency.
The changes are believed to be linked to concerns surrounding the Directorate of Airworthiness Standards, which has come under scrutiny following a series of aircraft incidents and reports suggesting lapses in regulatory compliance.
On December 14 and 16, 2025, the Nigeria Safety Investigation Board released reports on two separate aircraft incidents involving unscheduled flights. A Hawker 800XP carrying eight passengers crash-landed at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport after a landing gear problem, while a Cessna 172 crashed on approach to the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport in Owerri. No fatalities were recorded in either case.
Earlier, the minister had acknowledged awareness of circulating allegations against some NCAA officials and confirmed receipt of documents relating to the matter. He promised a thorough investigation and assured the public that air safety would not be compromised under his leadership.
Within a week of those assurances, the reshuffle was implemented. Godwin Balang, formerly Director of Aerodromes and Airspace Standards, was redeployed to head the Directorate of Airworthiness Standards. Meanwhile, Alhaji Ahmad Abba, previously Director of Special Duties at the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, was appointed to lead the Directorate of Aerodromes and Airspace Standards.
Balang officially assumed duty at his new post at the NCAA headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday. The redeployment is seen as a corrective measure aimed at strengthening oversight in a department that plays a central role in aircraft certification, maintenance regulation, and compliance with International Civil Aviation Organisation standards.
The Directorate of Airworthiness Standards has faced repeated allegations of regulatory lapses, including claims that some airworthiness certifications were issued without adequate technical scrutiny. These concerns have intensified following past aircraft accidents, including a 2023 crash involving a Jabiru J430 aircraft that reportedly occurred shortly after it was granted a Special Certificate of Airworthiness.
Sources within the aviation ministry described the reshuffle as a strategic intervention to restore confidence, tighten controls, and reinforce safety standards within Nigeria’s aviation regulatory framework.
