List Of All Ministers Of Aviation And Aerospace Development In Nigeria (1960-Present)
The Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development in Nigeria is responsible for regulating air travel and aviation services across the country.
Established to oversee the formulation and management of government policies related to aviation, the ministry plays an important part in ensuring that air transportation, airport development, and aviation infrastructure meet both national and international standards.
The ministry was officially established in 1978 during the administration of General Olusegun Obasanjo. Initially, it was focused on the development of the aviation sector, which includes safety, security, and the provision of necessary services to enhance air travel.
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List Of All Ministers Of Aviation And Aerospace Development In Nigeria (1960-Present)
Minister | Term |
---|---|
Dr. K.O Mbadiwe | 1960-1961 |
Hon. Raymond Njoku | 1962-1965 |
Chief J. A Nwachukwu | 1965-1966 |
Chief J. S Tarka | 1967-1971 |
Dr. R.A.B Dikko | 1971-1975 |
Maj. Gen. Shehu Musa Yar’ Adua (NA) | 1975-1976 |
Navy Capt. Olumide (NAF) | 1976-1976 |
Alhaji S. Kazaure | 1976-1978 |
Alhaji Shehu Wunti | 1978-1979 |
Hon. Sam Mafuyayi | 1979-1982 |
Hon. J.J Kadiya | 1982-1983 |
Alhaji Ibrahim Abdullahi | 1984-1984 |
Rear Admiral Patrick Koshoni (NN) | 1984-1985 |
Maj. Gen. Jeremiah Oseni (NA) | 1985-1987 |
AVM Anthony Okpere (NAF) | 1987-1989 |
Alhaji Bunu Sheriff Musa | 1989-1990 |
Alabo Tonye Graham Douglas | 1990-1992 |
Engr. Olawale Ige | 1992-1992 |
Chief Oluwole Adeosun | 1993-1993 |
Alhaji Bashiru Dalhatu | 1993-1993 |
Alhaji Aremu Yahaya | 1993-1994 |
Chief Ebenezer Babatope | 1994-1995 |
Air Cmdr. Nsikak Eduok (NAF) | 1995-1996 |
Air Cmdr. Ita Udo-Imeh (NAF) | 1996-1998 |
Capt. Benomi Briggs | 1998-1999 |
Dr. Olusegun Agugu | 1999-2000 |
Dr. (Mrs) Kema Nonyerem Chikwe | 2000-2003 |
Malam Isa Yuguda | 2003-2005 |
Prof. Babalola Borishade | 2005-2006 |
Chief Olufemi Fani-Kayode | 2006-2006 |
Felix Hassan Hyat | 2007-2008 |
Babatunde Omotoba | 2008-2010 |
Mrs. Fidelia Akuabata Njeze | 2010-2011 |
Princess Stella Adaeze Oduah-Ogiemwonyi (OON) | 2011-2014 |
Dr. Samuel Ioraer Ortom | 2014-2014 |
Osita Benjamin Chidoka | 2014-2015 |
Senator Hadi Sirika | 2019-2023 |
Festus Keyamo | 2023-Present |
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Who Was The First Minister Of Aviation And Aerospace Development In Nigeria?
The first Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development in Nigeria was Kingsley Ozumba Mbadiwe, serving from 1960 till 1961 when Nigeria gained Indepedence.
Kingsley Ozumba Mbadiwe was born in 1915 in Oneh, Orlu Division, which is now part of Imo State. His uncle, Igwegbe Odum, was a warrant chief during the colonial era.
However, Mbadiwe started his education at St Mary’s Catholic School in Port Harcourt and then continued at a government school in Aba.
He later attended several prestigious schools, including the Hope Waddell Training Institute in Calabar, Aggrey Memorial College in Arochukwu, Igbobi College in Lagos, and the Baptist Academy in Lagos.
Mbadiwe’s educational journey didn’t end in Nigeria. He traveled to the United States to further his studies at Columbia University and New York University.
During his time in the U.S., he was active in student organizations and even had the chance to meet Eleanor Roosevelt, the First Lady of the United States.
After returning to Nigeria, Mbadiwe joined politics. In 1951, he was elected to the Eastern Region House of Assembly. And in 1954, he became the Minister of Lands and National Resources.
In 1955, he took on a new role as the Central Minister of Communication and Aviation. In this position, Mbadiwe was responsible for overseeing the development of Nigeria’s aviation sector, which was a crucial part of the country’s infrastructure.
Mbadiwe’s political journey was not without challenges. In the mid-1950s, he faced opposition within his own party, the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC).
Alongside Kola Balogun, he attempted to challenge the leadership of Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, the party’s leader. This led to a temporary split, and Mbadiwe even started his own newspaper, The Daily Telegraph, to voice his dissent.
However, he eventually reconciled with the party and continued to hold important ministerial positions. In 1957, he became the Minister of Commerce.
His career took another turn during the Nigerian Civil War, when he served as a Roving Ambassador for the Biafran government, led by Odumegwu Ojukwu.
This role involved representing Biafra in different capacities until the end of the war. Mbadiwe’s personal life was also notable. He had six children and built a remarkable residence known as the Palace of the People in Ndianiche Uno.
This residence was a symbol of his status and was commissioned by Prime Minister Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa in 1965. Sadly, Kingsley Ozumba Mbadiwe passed away in 1990, but his legacy continues to be remembered in Nigeria.
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Who Is The Current Minister Of Aviation And Aerospace Development In Nigeria?
Festus Keyamo is currently the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development in Nigeria. He took office on August 21, 2023, under President Bola Tinubu. Before him, Hadi Sirika held the position.
Keyamo is a popular figure in Nigeria for his work as a lawyer, human rights activist, and politician. Festus Keyamo was born on January 21, 1970, in Ughelli, which is now part of Delta State in southern Nigeria.
His father, Matthias Keyamo, is from Effurun, also in Delta State. Festus had his primary education at Model Primary School and completed his secondary education at Government College, Ughelli.
In 1986, he received his West African School Certificate. He went on to study law at Ambrose Alli University in Ekpoma, Edo State, and earned a Bachelor of Law degree in 1992.
The following year, he was called to the Nigerian Bar, officially becoming a lawyer. Keyamo started his legal career in 1993 at Gani Fawehinmi’s Chambers in Lagos State.
Gani Fawehinmi was a well-known lawyer and activist. After spending two years there, Keyamo opened his own law firm, Festus Keyamo Chambers. Throughout his career, he handled many high-profile cases.
He defended Mujahid Dokubo-Asari, the leader of the Niger-Delta Peoples’ Volunteer Force, in his trial for treasonable felony.
He was also the lead counsel in the treason trial of Ralph Uwazuruike, the leader of the Movement For The Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB).
Keyamo was involved in the murder case of Bola Ige, a former Attorney General of Nigeria. Additionally, in 2008, he challenged the Nigerian government over illegal appointments of service chiefs.
In the political space, Keyamo was appointed as the Director of Strategic Communications for President Muhammadu Buhari’s 2019 re-election campaign.
In September 2019, Keyamo became the Minister of State for Labour and Employment under President Buhari, working alongside Minister Chris Ngige.
He served in this role until May 29, 2023. Before then, he was briefly appointed as the Minister of State for Niger Delta Affairs in August 2019, but he was moved to the Ministry of Labour and Employment shortly after.
Festus Keyamo has received several awards and recognitions for his contributions to law and human rights. In July 2017, he was named a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), which is a prestigious title for Nigerian lawyers.
In the same year, he was honored with the Global Human Rights Award by the United States Global Leadership Council in Washington.
This award was given to him for his efforts in promoting human rights and advocating for accountable governance in Nigeria.
In 2023, President Muhammadu Buhari awarded Keyamo and 338 others a national honor for their service to the country.
On August 4, 2023, President Bola Tinubu nominated Keyamo as a ministerial candidate. He was confirmed and later appointed as the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development on August 16, 2023.