Babatunde Omotoba

Babatunde Omotoba

Federal Minister of Aviation
In office 17 December 2008 – 17 March 2010
Preceded by	Felix Hyatt (Minister of State)
Succeeded by	Fidelia Njeze

Personal details
Born	(1969-09-27) September 27, 1969 (age 54)

Babatunde Omotoba was appointed Federal Minister of Aviation by President Umaru Yar'Adua on 17 December 2008.^[1] He left office in March 2010 when Acting President Goodluck Jonathan dissolved his cabinet.^[2]

Background

Omotoba studied Civil Engineering at the University of Benin, gaining a first class degree. He worked as a Construction and Structural Engineer on several Nigerian government projects. He was a Manager at Arthur Andersen in Nigeria in the financial services, manufacturing, commercial and telecoms groups. Omotoba obtained a master's degree in Business Administration from the J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management in 2003.^[3] 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 multibillion-dollar investment fund.^[4]

Aviation minister

Omotoba was appointed Federal Minister of Aviation on 17 December 2008.^[1] 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.^[5]

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.^[6] 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.^[7]

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.^[8] 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.^[9]

References

^ ^a ^b Anza Philips (24 December 2008). "The Coming of New Helmsmen". Newswatch. Archived from the original on 17 June 2011. Retrieved 2010-02-17.
^ Daniel Idonor (17 March 2010). "Jonathan Sacks Ministers". Vanguard. Archived from the original on 22 March 2010. Retrieved 2010-04-14.
^ "New Nigeria Minister Targets Safety, Consumer Protection". Aviation and Allied Business Publications. Archived from the original on 2009-02-21. Retrieved 2010-03-25.
^ "Alumni Spotlights and Highlights: Babatunde Omotoba". Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University. Archived from the original on 2010-06-12. Retrieved 2010-03-25.
^ Emmanuel Uffot (1 March 2009). "Sweeping Changes In Aviation Agencies". Newswatch. Retrieved 2010-02-17.
^ UCHE USIM (April 30, 2009). "Why we must review FAAN/concessionaires agreement – Babatunde Omotoba, Aviation Minister". Online Nigeria Daily News. Archived from the original on 6 January 2010. Retrieved 2010-02-17.
^ Emmanuel Uffot (27 September 2009). "Sticking to the Rule of Law". Newswatch. Archived from the original on 2011-07-27. Retrieved 2010-02-17.
^ Emmanuel Uffot (21 September 2009). "Hard Times for Domestic Airlines". Newswatch. Retrieved 2010-02-17.
^ UCHE USIM (September 17, 2009). "Why the 'Fly Nigeria Act' cannot work yet –Babatunde Omotoba, Aviation Minister". Daily Sun. Retrieved 2010-02-17.^{[permanent dead link]}

Cabinet of President Umaru Yar'Adua

The Cabinet of President Umaru Yar'Adua, which was formed on 26 July 2007, is shown below. The list shows Federal Ministers but excludes Ministers of State, who assist the Federal Ministers. The cabinet was dissolved on 17 March 2010 by Acting President Goodluck Jonathan, and a new cabinet sworn in on 6 April 2010.

Vice President	Goodluck Jonathan May 2009
Secretary	Baba Gana Kingibe (July 2007 – Sept 2008) Mahmud Yayale Ahmed Sept 2008
Agriculture & Water Resources	Abba Sayyadi Ruma (July 2007 – March 2010)
Aviation	Babatunde Omotoba (Dec 2008 – March 2010)
Commerce and Industry	Charles Ugwuh (July 2007 – Oct 2008) Achike Udenwa (December 2008 – March 2010)
Defence	Mahmud Yayale Ahmed (July 2007 – Sept 2008) Shettima Mustapha (Dec 2008 – July 2009) Godwin Abbe (July 2009 – March 2010)
Education	Igwe Aja-Nwachukwu (July 2007 – Dec 2008) Sam Egwu (Dec 2008 – March 2010)
Environment	Halima Tayo Alao (July 2007 – Oct 2008) John Odey (Dec 2008 – March 2010) (Reinstated April 2010) Chuka Odom 2007 -2009 Minister for state
Federal Capital Territory	Aliyu Modibbo Umar (July 2007 – Oct 2008) Adamu Aliero (Dec 2008 – March 2010) Chuka Odom 2009 -2010 Minister for state
Finance	Shamsuddeen Usman (July 2007 – Jan 2009) Mansur Muhtar (Jan 2009 – March 2010)
Foreign Affairs	Ojo Maduekwe (July 2007 – March 2010)
Health	Adenike Grange (July 2007 – March 2008) Babatunde Osotimehin (December 2008 – March 2010)
Information and Communication	John Odey (July 2007 – Dec 2008) Dora Akunyili (December 2008 – March 2010) (Reinstated April 2010)
Interior	Godwin Abbe (July 2007 – July 2009) Shettima Mustapha (July 2009 – March 2010)
Justice (Attorney General)	Michael Aondoakaa (July 2007 – February 2010) (Temporarily replaced by Adetokunbo Kayode)
Labour	Hassan Muhammed Lawal (July 2007 – Dec 2008) Adetokunbo Kayode (December 2008 – February 2010)

Mines and Steel Development	Sarafa Tunji Ishola (July 2007 – Oct 2008) Diezani Alison-Madueke (December 2008 – March 2010)
National Planning Commission	Mohammed Sanusi Daggash (July 2007 – Oct 2008) Shamsuddeen Usman (January 2009 – March 2010) (Reinstated April 2010)
Niger Delta	Ufot Ekaette (December 2008 – March 2010)
Petroleum	Rilwanu Lukman (December 2008 – February 2010)
Police Affairs	Ibrahim Lame (December 2008 – March 2010)
Power	Rilwan Lanre Babalola (December 2008 – March 2010)
Science & Technology	Grace Ekpiwhre (July 2007 – Dec 2008) Alhassan Bako Zaku (December 2008 – February 2010)
Sports	Abdulrahman Gimba (July 2007 – Oct 2008) Sani Ndanusa (December 2008 – March 2010)
Transport	Diezani Alison-Madueke (July 2007 – Dec 2008) Ibrahim Bio (December 2008 – March 2010)
Tourism, Culture and National Orientation	Adetokunbo Kayode (July 2007 – Dec 2008) Bello Jibrin Gada (December 2008 – March 2010)
Women Affairs	Saudatu Bungudu (July 2007 – Oct 2008) Salamatu Hussaini Suleiman (December 2008 – March 2010)
Works and Housing	Hassan Muhammed Lawal (December 2008 – March 2010)
Youth Development	Akinlabi Olasunkanmi (July 2007 – March 2010) (Reinstated April 2010)