FAAN, NCAA, NAMA, others get 45 days ministerial ultimatum to relocate headquarters to Abuja
Samson Echenim is business a.m. correspondent providing coverage for maritime, aviation, travels and hospitality. A former business correspondent at the Punch and Leadership newspapers, he has a vast experience in business reporting. Samson can be reached on samhapp2000@yahoo.com and +2348037363024
All federal government agencies and parastatals in the aviation sector have been directed by the Ministry of Aviatio to relocate their corporate headquarters to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja within the next 45 days.
With this directive, agencies expected to relocate from Lagos are the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) and Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET).
Business a.m recalls that there was a botched 2012 presidential directive to the agencies to relocate their headquarters to Abuja. The new directive appears to reenact the 2012 directive.
In a letter dated 4th May 2020 from the Ministry FMA/PMD/7061/T/4 signed on behalf of the Minister of Aviation by the director, Human Resource Management Muhammad Shehu this re-enacted directive is hinged on the premise of the current global economic situation and reducing cost of governance.
The letter titled: Relocation of Aviation Agencies to Abuja read: “ I am directed to remind you of a Presidential directive issued in 2012 requesting all the agencies under the Ministry of Aviation to relocate their corporate headquarters to the Federal Capital Territory ( Abuja ) for efficient and effective coordination and enhanced service delivery and note that eight (8) years after the directive, the agencies are yet to comply.
“Accordingly, considering the current situation and the economic impact worldwide as well as the need to reduce the cost of governance and manage scarce resources in a sustainable way, it has become imperative and further to the honorable Minister’s directive (Copy attached) to request that you facilitate and complete the relocation of your corporate headquarters within the next forty five (45) days in line with this earlier directive.