Six months after his appointment as the Chairman of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) was announced by the Presidency, the immediate past National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, and the rest of the Board were inaugurated in Abuja, on Wednesday, by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Barrister Festus Keyamo.
The inauguration was confirmed in a video posted on X by the Special Adviser on Digital Media to the Minister, Gbenga Saka, on Wednesday.
On 24 January, presidential spokesperson, Mr. Bayo Onanuga announced the appointment of board chairpersons for 42 federal organisations and a secretary to the board of the civil defence, immigration, and prisons services.
Among the appointees were Kayode Opeifa as Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, and Raji Kolawole (Director-General for the National Board for Technology Incubation). Ganduje (Chairman of FAAN), and APC’s National Publicity Secretary, Barrister Felix Morka (Chairman of the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa).
In his remarks at Wednesday’s inauguration of the FAAN Board, Keyamo described the occasion as a critical step toward repositioning Nigeria’s aviation industry.
‘This occasion marks not just a change in leadership, but a renewed commitment to service, safety, and progress in our aviation sector. As we inaugurate this new board, we carry the weight of national expectation to build world-class aviation infrastructure and foster socio-economic development’, he said.
While welcoming Ganduje to the new role, the minster expressed optimism that the new Chairman’s experience and influence would bring renewed efficiency to the operations of FAAN.
In his acceptance speech, Ganduje thanked President Bola Tinubu for entrusting him with the role and pledged to provide purposeful leadership in alignment with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the administration.
He said: ‘We will study the FAAN Act carefully to operate within our legal boundaries and avoid conflicts between the board, executive management, and the ministry.
Ganduje emphasised the importance of attitude change among stakeholders and promised that the board would prioritise passenger satisfaction and international best practices.
FAAN Managing Director/CEO Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku said the board’s inauguration marked a new chapter of collaboration and strategic growth for the authority.
‘With this calibre of leadership, I am confident that we will improve passenger experience and strengthen institutional governance. The work we do will speak for itself’, she added.
Members of the FAAN Board are:
1. Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje – Chairman
2. Engr. T. P. Vembe: Director, Aerodrome Development Department, Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development – Member
3. Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku: Managing Director/CEO, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria – Member
4. Ms. Dorothy Duruak: Director, International Tourism Relations and Cooperation, Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy – Member
5. Ahmed Ibrahim Suleiman: Director, Air Force Affairs, Ministry of Defence – Member
6. Engr. Nasiru Muazu: Dean, Air Traffic Service and Communication School, Nigerian College of Aviation Technology – Member
7. Dr. Omozojie Okoboh: Chief State Counsel, Federal Ministry of Justice – Member/Board Secretary (Legal)
8. Mrs. Bridget Gold: Director, Legal Services, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria — Legal Adviser