Babatunde Omotoba
Encyclopedia
Babatunde Omotoba was appointed Federal Minister of Aviation
by President Umaru Yar'Adua on 17 December 2008.
He left office in March 2010 when Acting President Goodluck Jonathan
dissolved his cabinet.
, gaining a first class degree.
He worked as a Construction and Structural Engineer on several Nigerian government projects.
He was a Manager at Arthur Anderson
in Nigeria in the financial services, manufacturing, commercial and telecoms groups.
Omotoba obtained a Masters in Business Administration from the J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management
in 2003.
Omotoba worked for several years after graduating from Kellogg as vice president of Smith Whiley & Company's private equity division in Evanston, Illinois
, USA.
Before being appointed Minister of Aviation, Omotoba was a director at Africa Finance Corporation, a multi-billion-dollar investment fund.
In March 2009, Omotoba sacked the managing director of the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency and nine directors in three aviation parastatals, apparently due to concerns over handling of funds.
In April 2009, he said he had reviewed all agreements the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria had signed with concessionaires and concluded that some were completely lopsided, ignoring the interests of the government.
In September 2009, Omotoba was directed by the attorney-general Michael Aondoakaa
to hand over the General Aviation Terminal of
the old domestic wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (Lagos
) to Bi-Courteny Aviation Services Limited.
Also that month, talking about the financial difficulties faced by several Nigerian airlines, Omotoba said government had not rules out any form of bail-out for the airlines. He also suggested the airlines should seriously consider mergers and alliances.
He ruled out enactment of the Fly Nigeria Act as a way of supporting local airlines, saying the local carriers had to improve their safety record before the Nigerian elite would use them instead of the manor international airlines.
Nigerian Federal Ministry of Aviation
The Nigerian Federal Ministry of Aviation is a ministry of the Nigerian government that regulates air travel and aviation services in Nigeria.The ministry is responsible for formulation and management of the government's aviation policies in Nigeria....
by President Umaru Yar'Adua on 17 December 2008.
He left office in March 2010 when Acting President Goodluck Jonathan
Goodluck Jonathan
Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan, GCFR, BNER, GCON is the 14th Head of State and current President of Nigeria.He was Governor of Bayelsa State from 9 December 2005 to 28 May 2007, and was sworn in as Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on 29 May 2007. Jonathan is a member of the...
dissolved his cabinet.
Background
Omotoba studied Civil Engineering at the University of BeninUniversity of Benin
There are several institutions called the University of Benin in West Africa:*The National University of Benin, in Cotonou, Benin*The University of Benin in Benin City, Nigeria*The University of Benin in Lomé, Togo, now known as the University of Lomé...
, gaining a first class degree.
He worked as a Construction and Structural Engineer on several Nigerian government projects.
He was a Manager at Arthur Anderson
Arthur Anderson
Arthur Anderson may refer to:*Arthur Anderson , Scottish businessman and co-founder of the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company *Arthur E. Andersen , founder of Chicago-based accounting firm...
in Nigeria in the financial services, manufacturing, commercial and telecoms groups.
Omotoba obtained a Masters in Business Administration from the J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management
Kellogg School of Management
The Kellogg School of Management is the business school of Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, downtown Chicago, Illinois and Miami, Florida. Kellogg offers full-time, part-time, and executive programs, as well as partnering programs with schools in China, India, Hong Kong, Israel,...
in 2003.
Omotoba worked for several years after graduating from Kellogg as vice president of Smith Whiley & Company's private equity division in Evanston, Illinois
Evanston, Illinois
Evanston is a suburban municipality in Cook County, Illinois 12 miles north of downtown Chicago, bordering Chicago to the south, Skokie to the west, and Wilmette to the north, with an estimated population of 74,360 as of 2003. It is one of the North Shore communities that adjoin Lake Michigan...
, USA.
Before being appointed Minister of Aviation, Omotoba was a director at Africa Finance Corporation, a multi-billion-dollar investment fund.
Aviation minister
Omotoba was appointed Federal Minister of Aviation on 17 December 2008.In March 2009, Omotoba sacked the managing director of the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency and nine directors in three aviation parastatals, apparently due to concerns over handling of funds.
In April 2009, he said he had reviewed all agreements the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria had signed with concessionaires and concluded that some were completely lopsided, ignoring the interests of the government.
In September 2009, Omotoba was directed by the attorney-general Michael Aondoakaa
Michael Aondoakaa
Michael Kaase Aondoakaa was Nigeria's justice minister from July 2007 to 10 February 2010.-Background:Michael Kaase Aondoakaa was born in Benue on 12 June 1962. He attended the University of Maiduguri, where he studied law...
to hand over the General Aviation Terminal of
the old domestic wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (Lagos
Lagos
Lagos is a port and the most populous conurbation in Nigeria. With a population of 7,937,932, it is currently the third most populous city in Africa after Cairo and Kinshasa, and currently estimated to be the second fastest growing city in Africa...
) to Bi-Courteny Aviation Services Limited.
Also that month, talking about the financial difficulties faced by several Nigerian airlines, Omotoba said government had not rules out any form of bail-out for the airlines. He also suggested the airlines should seriously consider mergers and alliances.
He ruled out enactment of the Fly Nigeria Act as a way of supporting local airlines, saying the local carriers had to improve their safety record before the Nigerian elite would use them instead of the manor international airlines.