Following his appointment as the acting director-general of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Capt. Chris Najomo finds himself embroiled in allegations of financial recklessness, violations of government procurement regulations, and gross abuse of office.
Reports from DAILY NIGERIAN indicate that the top aviation regulator proposed extravagant expenditures including N3 billion on vehicle purchases, N4.3 billion on international transport, N3.3 billion on local transport and training travels, and N8.3 billion on travels and transport.
Shortly after assuming office on December 13, 2023, Mr. Najomo embarked on a spending spree, acquiring a 2022 Toyota Landcruiser (70th Anniversary Edition) valued at over N250 million, a purchase not accounted for in the budget. Sources reveal that there was no appropriation approval by the National Assembly for this specific acquisition.
Investigations further uncovered that the SUV was procured without the necessary approvals from the Bureau of Public Procurement and the Federal Executive Council, contravening government procurement regulations.
The acting director-general also sanctioned foreign training for 109 staff at a cost exceeding N1 billion within his first week in office, yet the staff have not undertaken the training months after payment.
These actions, along with other questionable decisions such as non-compliance with directives to open new Treasury Single Account (TSA) accounts and attempts to convert $13 million to naira without corresponding expenses, have raised concerns within the industry.
The infractions led to the freezing of the authority’s TSA account at the Central Bank of Nigeria, highlighting the seriousness of the situation. Despite denials from the NCAA’s Public Affairs Department, the allegations persist, casting a shadow over the organization’s financial integrity and regulatory compliance.
