“My name is Captain Fola Akinkuotu; I am the Rector of International Aviation College, Ilorin, which is the newest aviation college in Nigeria. I have been in the aviation industry most of my life. I will definitely say over 40 years in the industry. I started out as an aircraft engineer and I became a flight engineer and a pilot. I have flown in most of the airlines in Nigeria and I have over 13,000 hours of jet time. I have been in various things; I have been an instructor; a VIP pilot, I flew the Pope in 1997. I have done my bit.”
That was what President Goodluck Jonathan’s nominee to head the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), said, when asked to describe himself. The President sent the name of Captain Fola Akinkuotu to the Senate yesterday as a possible replacement Dr. Harold Demuren, who was ignominiously sacked, early this week.
Jonathan, who was seeking the Senate’s confirmation for the new nominee, urged senators to treat the nomination of Captain Fola Akinkuotu as Demuren’s successor with dispatch. He added that the sack of Demuren was in accordance with Section 8 (3) (a) and (c) of the Civil Aviation Act 2006; saying the action was part of recent moves by the Federal Government to restructure the aviation industry.
In a letter addressed to the Senate President, David Mark, and read on the floor of the chamber, Jonathan said Akinkuotu was nominated in observance of Section 8(1) of the Act. The letter read in part: “Following concerns expressed by aviation stakeholders on perceived poor Internal Audit and Quality Assurance within NCAA, the Federal Government is in the process of restructuring the authority for better and more efficient service delivery.
“Consequently, Dr. Harold Olusegun Demuren has been relieved of his appointment as the Director General of the NCAA in line with provisions of Section 8 (3) (a) and (c) of the Civil Aviation Act of 2006. In line with Section (8) (1) of the Civil Aviation Act of 2006, I hereby present the nomination of Captain Fola Akinkuotu, from the same geo-political zone as Demuren as Director General of NCAA for the confirmation of the Senate. His Curriculum Vitae is attached. It is my hope that the distinguished senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria will consider and confirm the nominee in your usual expeditious manner.”
Akinkuotu who is presently the Rector of International Aviation College, Ilorin, is a pilot and flight engineer who has put in over 40 years as an aviator. Before his present appointment, he was the head of flight operations in Air Nigeria, which has gone under, and he had worked in many airlines in the country.
