The Chairman of the Governing Board of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, has called on aviation stakeholders to renew their collective commitment to strengthening the nation’s aviation sector and positioning it for future growth.
Ganduje made the call on Wednesday while addressing participants at the four-day FAAN Board and Stakeholders’ Retreat, with the theme “Future-Proofing FAAN: Leadership, Modernization and Strategic Renewal,” in Abuja.
He stressed the need for continuous evolution, innovation, and collaboration to ensure long-term resilience, efficiency, and global relevance in the sector.
“We must continuously evolve, anticipate emerging trends and adopt innovative approaches that ensure long-term resilience, efficiency, and global relevance,” he said.
The former Governor of Kano State, who drew attention to the theme of the retreat, described it as timely and strategic for the growth of the aviation industry.
Ganduje expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for the Renewed Hope Agenda, which he said has driven reforms aimed at revitalising Nigeria’s airports and strengthening the aviation ecosystem.
He also commended the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, for his vision and support for the sector.
The immediate past Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress(APC)
urged stakeholders to work together to build a modern, efficient, innovative, financially sustainable, and globally competitive FAAN.
“We must strengthen our leadership culture, accelerate modernization, invest in staff welfare and capacity development, and improve operational efficiency,” Ganduje added, encouraging participants to engage in open dialogue and bold thinking throughout the retreat.
In her opening remarks, the Managing Director and Chief Executive of FAAN, Olubunmi Kuku, highlighted leadership, modernization, and strategic renewal as the three key pillars for the Authority’s future.
“I want to reaffirm that FAAN, under my leadership, operates on a clear, open-door policy,” she said, noting that the approach promotes innovation, transparency, and collaborative problem-solving.
Mrs. Kuku stressed the importance of enhancing infrastructure across the country’s airports, adding that safety and passenger experience must remain paramount.
“We must ensure that all our airports are safe, secure, and welcoming spaces for our many guests, who are the reason for our existence,” she said.
She thanked Ganduje and members of the Board for their dedication and guidance, expressing confidence that the retreat would mark a significant milestone in FAAN’s transformation journey.
In his goodwill message, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Aviation, Abdulfatai Buhari, commended FAAN for its contributions to Nigeria’s socio-economic development while urging the agency to scale up its performance.
Similarly, the Chairman of the House Committee on Aviation, Abdullah Garba, represented by his deputy, Hon. Festus Akingbaso, urged FAAN to prioritise safety, sustainability, and passenger experience. He also advocated the restructuring of FAAN’s directorates and departments to enhance operational efficiency.
“The safety and security of our airports and airspace must remain non-negotiable,” he said, while also calling for environmentally sustainable aviation operations in line with global best practices.
The retreat is expected to produce actionable strategies to drive FAAN’s growth, modernization, and long-term development.
