Ganduje chairs FAAN board following his APC exit, with Keyamo unveiling the new aviation leadership to drive reforms across Nigeria’s airport infrastructure
Ganduje chairs FAAN board just days after resigning as APC national chairman, marking a swift transition into a new federal role under the Tinubu administration.
Also read: Ganduje Resigns as APC Chairman Amid Zoning Pressure
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, officially inaugurated Abdullahi Ganduje as Chairman of the Board of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) on Wednesday.
The ceremony, held in Abuja, was confirmed in a video shared by the minister’s aide on X (formerly Twitter), Gbenga Saka.
This appointment signals a high-profile redeployment of the former Kano State Governor, who recently vacated his position at the helm of the ruling party amid internal political turbulence.
The new board includes FAAN Managing Director Ms Olubunmi Kuku and members Ms Dorothy Duruaka, Ahmed Ibrahim Suleiman, Nasiru Muazu, Omozojie Okoboh, TP Vembe and Bridget Gold, who was named Secretary.
At the inauguration, Keyamo laid out a clear mandate for the board, noting that the aviation sector was central to Nigeria’s socioeconomic development.
“As we inaugurate this new board, we carry the weight of expectation that we must continue to foster an environment where aviation can thrive, connect diverse regions, and promote socioeconomic development across our nation,” Keyamo said.
He cited the challenges in infrastructure and global aviation dynamics, urging the board to deliver reforms that would modernise Nigeria’s airports and elevate passenger experience.
As a board, we will assist you in moving this ministry to the next level… We are fully conscious of our limits.
“To the newly inaugurated board members, you have been entrusted with a critical mandate. You are not merely figureheads; you are the architects of our aviation future. Your role demands a meticulous approach to governance, a commitment to transparency, and an unwavering dedication to the principles enshrined in the Federal Airports Authority Act,” he added.
In his remarks, Ganduje pledged commitment to collaborative leadership and promised to avoid conflicts with FAAN’s executive management.
He said the board would study the FAAN Act carefully to understand its boundaries and responsibilities.
“As a board, we will assist you in moving this ministry to the next level,” Ganduje said.
“We are fully conscious of our limits. We do not want to overshoot, but we will not underperform either. We are here to support service delivery, which is the whole essence of FAAN.”
Ganduje acknowledged the complexity of delivering efficient services in aviation, given the numerous national and international stakeholders involved, but said Nigeria must maintain its leadership status in Africa.
“I assure you, in conjunction with the executive management, we will ensure service delivery because that is the whole essence of FAAN. And this service delivery is becoming more and more complicated because there are so many stakeholder institutions, both at the national level and the international level,” he said.
Ganduje’s appointment is expected to bolster political oversight at FAAN as the Tinubu government pushes for public sector reforms in critical infrastructure agencies.
The inclusion of key technocrats on the board reflects an effort to blend political experience with sectoral expertise.
Also read: Ganduje Resignation Fuels APC Leadership Crisis, Kwankwaso Buzz
Observers say Ganduje’s transition from party politics to aviation governance could serve as a litmus test for the Tinubu administration’s ability to redeploy former political heavyweights into strategic national roles.
