The Speaker of the House of Representatives Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has expressed deep sorrow over the demise of an aviation expert, Captain Shehu Usman Iyal.
Capt. Iyal, a one-time presidential adviser on aviation matters and the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of AFRI-AIR International Ltd, died on Thursday.
Speaker Abbas, who described the late Capt. Iyal as an aviation czar who served his fatherland diligently and patriotically, said the late CEO of AFRI-AIR would be sorely missed.
The Speaker recalled how the late Capt. Iyal dedicated himself to the service of humanity — supporting the less-privileged and the orphans, offering a helping hand to those around him, as well as engaging in other charitable activities.
Speaker Abbas prayed to Allah to have mercy on the soul of the late aviation expert and reward him with Jannatul Firdaus.
Late Captain Shehu Iyal graduated from the School of Basic Studies, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria in 1977. He also attended Nigeria College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria (formerly Nigerian Civil Aviation Training Centre) in 1982.
He was at the Rogers Aviation, Bedford, United Kingdom, where he obtained certification as Assistant Flying Instructor Rating (Procedures) in 1982. Furthermore, he subsequently left to the Air Wing of the Nigeria Police Force.
An alumnus of the London Business School, where he studied Aviation Management, late Capt. Iyal held a Commercial Pilot License and Private Pilot License, culminating in an extensive flying experience of over 3,000 hours, including fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft.
He was the pioneer Commander of the Air Border Patrol Unit of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Kaduna in 1987. He was seconded to the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) in the Presidency upon his return from the London Business School.
Late Capt. Iyal founded the AFRI-AIR International — an aviation handling company, which offers aviation consultancy services — in 2001, serving as its Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer.
He had served Special Assistant and Senior Special Assistant on Aviation Matters to former President Olusegun Obasanjo in addition to being a one-time chairman of the Presidential Implementation and Monitoring Committee (PIMC), Hub development of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport and Presidential Committee on Improvement of Airport Security and Drug Related Problems.
He was also a board member of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) and chairperson of its aviation committee.
