A groundswell of opposition has been mounting against the Federal Government’s decision sacking the Director-General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Dr. Harold Demuren with fingers pointing at Aviation Minister, Stella Oduah-Ogiewonyi, accused by aviation industry stakeholders of masterminding the move for her own selfish interests.
President Goodluck Jonathan, acting on recommendation from the Minister of Aviation, while announcing the NCAA chief‘s removal said, “this is consequent to a careful consideration of Demuren’s unsatisfactory response to the numerous concerns of stakeholders in the aviation sector.
But in his reaction, Assistant Secretary General of Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), Mohammed Tukur said Demuren was removed for his uncompromising stance of safety and other issues that affected the aviation sector.
Also, the President of the Aviation Round Table (ART), Captain Dele Ore, said: “What Nigeria has done is very immoral, what we would have done is to appreciate him. It shows that Nigeria actually kills his own heroes. We murder our own heroes; rather than appreciate them, we kill them. It is very sad, because I believe that Demuren has done a very good job. He should have been encouraged, he does not deserve to be disgraced the way they have done.
In the same vein, an aviation expert, Oluminde Ohunayo, said that Demuren exit marked the end of an era, saying Demuren worked tirelessly to elevate safety in the industry. He called on his successor to consolidate on the ex- NCAA boss’ landmark achievement, stressing that safety must be made his top priority. A former ART President, Rtd Group Captain John Obakpolor said the manner of Demuren’s removal was unfortunate, describing his contribution to the sector as phenomenal.
The Senate Committee on Aviation led by Senator Hope Uzodinma had blamed the crash on the NCAA’s poor safety oversight even though preliminary investigations conducted by the Accident Investigations Bureau (AIB) did not find the agency guilty of any wrongdoing.
The House of Representatives had in January this year laid the blame for the June 3, 2012 Dana Air crash at the door step of the NCAA and called for Demuren dismissal from service. The legislators added that Demuren should also be prosecuted for criminal negligence.
Huhuonline.com learnt from Aviation sources that relations between Demuren and the Aviation Minister had hit rock bottom as Demuren was perceived to be standing in the way of the Minister’s efforts to look the other way while airline carriers violate the law with impunity. It probably did not help Demuren’s case when he publicly opposed a recent proposal by the Aviation Minister to acquire 30 aircraft for Nigerian airlines, ostensibly to boost the low operational capacity of domestic airlines.
Demuren is said to have told the Minister to her face that such a move was ill-advised as it was bound to result in gross waste of taxpayers’ funds rather than boost capacity in the sector or enhance the safety of passengers. Demuren also questioned the logic behind the proposed public spending spree as a solution to structural problems in a sector dominated by private sector players, arguing that how can the government be preaching free market and private sector investment, while the Minister is hatching plans to squander public funds on what the private sector could be encouraged to do well.
