By Peter Onyekachukwu 
By Peter Onyekachukwu
Nigeria’s aviation industry has lost one of its respected pioneers as Captain Shehu Iyal, former Special Assistant on Aviation to Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, died on Thursday in Zaria after a prolonged illness.
A family source confirmed that the late captain, a prominent figure in both the civilian and public aviation sectors, will be buried in Zaria according to Islamic rites.
Until his death, Iyal was the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Afri-Air. He played a key role in the development of Nigeria’s aviation infrastructure during his service as a Senior Special Adviser on Aviation Matters and the Presidential Air Fleet under two different administrations.
“He was a professional to the core. His contributions to the aviation sector, especially in policy and safety improvements, were remarkable,” said a former aviation official who worked with him during the Obasanjo era.
An alumnus of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) and the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria, Iyal was deeply involved in aviation reforms. He chaired the Presidential Implementation and Monitoring Committee on the development of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, and the Presidential Committee on Airport Security and Drug-Related Issues.
His commitment to aviation also extended to religious service, having served as a board member of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), where he chaired the aviation committee, ensuring safe and efficient airlift operations for pilgrims.
His death comes as a significant loss to the aviation community and the nation at large. “He was a quiet achiever who never sought the limelight but worked diligently behind the scenes to make air travel safer and more efficient,” the family source said.