Tribute
By Chukwudi George Ozalla
Capt. Chris Ona Najomo marks his birthday today, and it is a fitting occasion to reflect on the man and the energy he brings to his work. At the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), he is constantly on the move, checking, listening, meeting stakeholders, asking questions and following up on matters that require his attention. He has the energy of a man who does not like to leave today’s work for tomorrow.
That quality has become part of the picture of Najomo since he took charge of the Authority. He is not the type of administrator who stays behind a desk and waits for reports to arrive. He wants to see things himself, engage the people involved and know what is being done about a problem. For a man who spent many years in the cockpit, this way of working is understandable. Aviation demands attention, discipline and readiness, and those habits have remained part of his working life.
Najomo is, by any fair description, a workaholic. He appears to enjoy a busy schedule, moving from one engagement to another without losing interest in the work. His career cannot be understood simply by listing the offices he has occupied. He has spent decades in aviation and has brought the practical experience of the profession into the responsibilities he now carries as the head of the country’s civil aviation regulator.
Aviation leaves little room for carelessness. Pilots know it. Engineers know it. Inspectors know it. Regulators must know it too. Precision, preparation and vigilance are necessary in an industry where a small error can have serious consequences. These are qualities that have featured prominently in Najomo’s approach to the NCAA.
He has preferred direct engagement with the industry. Airlines have had to answer questions about their operations, while passenger concerns have received attention and aviation professionals have continued to be reminded of the standards expected of them. When an issue requires regulatory action, Najomo has shown a willingness to deal with it rather than allow it to linger.
That approach has sometimes required firm decisions. A regulator cannot always make operators happy, particularly when safety, compliance and passenger rights are involved. The NCAA’s responsibility is to ensure that aviation operators comply with established rules and that passengers receive the protection provided by those rules.
Najomo’s experience as a pilot is relevant here. He understands the importance of preparation and procedure. He knows that aviation rules are not written merely to fill manuals and that safety depends on discipline being observed every day. Those lessons from the cockpit have found their way into his approach to regulation.
There is also the human side of his leadership. At the NCAA’s birthday celebration for him last year, members of staff spoke about his concern for their welfare, integrity and efforts to promote excellence within the organisation. Their comments offered an insight into how he relates with the people working under him and the importance he attaches to the workforce.
Professional development has also received attention under his watch. The NCAA has continued to strengthen its technical workforce, including aviation safety inspectors and other specialists, while stressing professionalism and ethical conduct. A regulator cannot effectively supervise a modern aviation industry without properly trained personnel who understand the weight of their responsibilities.
Najomo has also paid attention to the systems through which the Authority carries out its work. The inauguration of the NCAA Quality Assurance Team and the commissioning of an Electronic Project Portfolio Management System are examples of steps taken to improve monitoring and management within the organisation. Such systems are important because the work of a regulator cannot depend only on the energy of one person. There must be processes that allow responsibilities to be followed, projects to be monitored and standards to be maintained.
Yet his personal pace remains one of the first things people notice. He does not seem comfortable simply occupying an office. He wants to see what is happening, meet stakeholders, listen to concerns and take part in industry engagements. His presence at aviation events and meetings has made him a familiar figure among operators and professionals in the sector.
That visibility has also made the NCAA more prominent in matters that affect ordinary air travellers. Passenger rights have received attention, airline operations have come under regulatory scrutiny, and safety oversight and professional standards have remained important parts of the Authority’s public engagements.
This is not to suggest that every problem in Nigerian aviation has been solved. The sector still has difficult issues requiring sustained attention, and the NCAA still has a demanding job. But there has been a visible emphasis on regulation, engagement, professional standards and institutional improvement under Najomo.
Perhaps that is why the picture of a captain who does not sit still suits him. He has brought the habits of the cockpit into his work at the NCAA, staying close to the issues, engaging people and pushing matters that require attention.
So today, on his birthday, I, on behalf of the management and board of NEWSCOUNT, join his colleagues, friends and the wider aviation community to wish Capt. Chris Ona Najomo a happy birthday. We wish him good health, greater fulfilment and many more years of service to the aviation industry and the country.
