This is indeed happy moment for Mahmoud Ben-Tukur, Nigerian representative on the International Civil Aviation Organisation, (ICAO) as he retained his seat on Saturday after getting 163 votes out of 185 eligible member states.
Ben-Tukur was re-elected on Saturday at the ongoing 42nd ICAO Assembly, which is currently taking place in Montreal, Canada.
Tunde Moshood, the Special Adviser on Media and Communications to the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, confirmed the election of Ben- Tukur through a statement issued on Saturday.
The election, which saw competition from 11 other African nations, underscores Nigeria’s continued relevance and influence in international civil aviation governance.
Ben-Tukur , who has served as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the International Civil Aviation Organisation since 2020, has extensive experience in aviation, including roles in aircraft maintenance, airworthiness oversight, and technical advisory positions.
Ben-Tukur has held key ICAO leadership roles, such as Second Vice President, First Vice President of the Council, and Chairperson of the ICAO African Indian Ocean Plan.
“Engr. Ben-Tukur, Nigeria’s Representative to ICAO, will continue to occupy Nigeria’s seat on the Council, further strengthening the nation’s role in global aviation governance. He was re-elected with an impressive 163 votes out of 185 eligible member states, demonstrating strong international confidence in Nigeria’s leadership and contributions to the aviation sector.
“Nigeria joins 11 other countries re-elected into Part II of the ICAO Council, including Egypt and South Africa from the African bloc. The outcome reflects the resilience of Nigeria’s aviation diplomacy and the strength of its global alliances within the ICAO family,” Moshood said in the statement.
According to him, , the outcome of the election reflects the strength of Nigeria’s diplomatic engagement and aviation sector leadership, as well as the effectiveness of its strategic campaign led by the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development.
“The Minister, who led Nigeria’s delegation to the Assembly, participated in the voting process and engaged in high-level diplomatic consultations throughout the event,” Moshood stated.
Reacting to the development, the Keyamo described the re-election as “a proud moment for Nigeria and for Africa,” highlighting the vote as a reaffirmation of Nigeria’s commitment to aviation safety, security, sustainability, and global cooperation.
“Nigeria’s re-election places it alongside other African countries such as Egypt and South Africa, which also secured seats in Part II of the Council. The outcome not only consolidates Nigeria’s role in shaping ICAO’s global policies and standards but also reinforces its position as a key voice for Africa within the international aviation community, “the statement added.
