The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has reshuffled major directors in the country’s aviation regulatory system, following rumours of serious corrupt practices involving key officers.
The reshuffling of the senior officials is believed to be linked to allegations of inefficiency and compromised oversight within the Directorate of Airworthiness Standards.
This development followed reports issued by the Nigeria Safety Investigation Board on 14 December 2025 and 16 December 2025, which highlighted major aircraft incidents involving unscheduled aircraft operations.
According to the reports, a Hawker 800XP carrying eight persons crash-landed at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport in Kano, while a Cessna 172 aircraft crashed during approach at the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport in Owerri. However, none of the four persons on board the latter aircraft sustained injuries.
In a report by ThisDay newspaper released barely a week earlier, the minister confirmed that he was aware of the rumoured allegations against the agency and acknowledged receiving documents on the matter. Keyamo pledged to initiate an investigation into the allegations and stated that the findings would be made public.
Speaking with the newspaper, the minister expressed concern that, despite the documents being in the public domain, the appropriate authorities had not responded to the allegations. He stated that his ministry was conducting a comprehensive investigation, insisting that, as Minister of Aviation, he could not permit anything that might compromise air safety under his leadership.
Less than a week later, the reshuffling was implemented under the minister’s directive. The Directorate of Airworthiness Standards plays a central role in ensuring that civil aircraft remain safe and comply with established standards.
It is responsible for certification, maintenance oversight, continuous compliance with International Civil Aviation Organisation regulations, aircraft registration, issuance of Certificates of Airworthiness, approval of Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul activities, and development of technical standards to keep aircraft airworthy throughout their operational lifespan.
However, the directorate has recently faced intense scrutiny, with several allegations of irregularities raised against it. The concerns intensified following multiple aircraft incidents investigated by the Nigeria Safety Investigation Board.
On 14 December 2025, a Hawker 800XP aircraft with registration number 5N-ISB crash-landed at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport with eight persons on board after experiencing a landing gear malfunction.
Two days later, a Cessna 172 aircraft with registration number 5N-ASR crashed while approaching the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport in Owerri. No fatalities were recorded in either of the incidents.
Earlier incidents included the crash of a Jabiru J430 aircraft, registered as 5N-CCQ, on 1 August 2023, which reportedly occurred shortly after it was issued a Special Certificate of Airworthiness. It was learnt that this certification was among several approvals granted without a thorough technical evaluation.
Following the reshuffle, Godwin Balang, formerly the Director of Aerodromes and Airspace Standards, has been reassigned to head the Directorate of Airworthiness Standards, while Alhaji Ahmad Abba, who previously served as Director of Special Duties in the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, has been redeployed to the Directorate of Aerodromes and Airspace Standards to replace Balang.
Balang officially assumed duties at his new office on Tuesday at the authority’s headquarters in Abuja. It was learnt that the move was introduced as an intervention strategy to strengthen control over a department alleged by insiders to have exhibited regulatory laxity and procedural compromise.
Sources within the ministry, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to fear of reprimand, told our correspondent that Balang took over his new position on Tuesday at the Abuja headquarters.
A ministry source stated, “The airworthiness department is where safety either stands or collapses. When leadership is changed at that level, it is rarely accidental.”
When contacted, the media aide to the minister, Tunde Moshood, explained that the reshuffle was undertaken for administrative efficiency, adding that the investigation initiated by the minister was still ongoing.
He said, “It has nothing to do with the complaints; sometimes you just must do some things. The investigation is still ongoing.”
