Foremost aviator, Captain Ado Sanusi has quit as the Managing Director of Aero Contractors, Nigeria’s oldest surviving domestic airline, it was learnt on Wednesday.
Capt. Sanusi stepped down after the expiration of his tenure at the airline.
Sanusi was appointed the MD in February 2017 after it was taken over by the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON).
It was learnt that his tenure, according to the contract with the AMCON, actually elapsed six months ago but it was extended till the end of December, 2020.
The former MD, however, formally left the organization on December 29, 2020 after he helped to stabilize the organization and even revive the moribund Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) wing of the airline.
The resuscitation of Aero MRO helped the airline in bringing some of its aircraft back to service as Sanusi took over when the airline had just one serviceable aircraft.
Daily Trust learnt that Capt. Abdullahi Mahmood, the Chief Pilot of Arik Air, another airline under AMCON’s receivership, has taken over from Sanusi.
Spokesman of the corporation, Mr. Jude Nwazor confirmed the development in a chat with our correspondent last night.
He described the change of guard as “a restrategising process.” He also confirmed the speculation that AMCON might deploy Sanusi to another entity under its aviation portfolio, saying, “I am not sure we are done with Capt. Ado Sanusi as you know that we still have many entities under our aviation portfolio.”
“What happened was just change of guards. He has done four years. There are not many people in Nigeria with experience like Capt. Sanusi. He is not somebody you just dump anyhow. Somebody like that is very valuable,” he said.
Capt. Sanusi also told Daily Trust that he has left the airline after the expiration of his tenure. However, he expressed optimism that the airline would continue to wax stronger.
