The Chairman of the Governing Board of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Dr. Abdullah Ganduje has called on stakeholders to renew their collective commitment to strengthening the aviation sector and preparing it for the future.
The former Governor of Kano State made the call on Wednesday while addressing participants at four-day FAAN Board and Stakeholders Retreat in Abuja.
While highlighting the theme of the retreat, which is “Future-Proofing FAAN: Leadership, Modernisation and Strategic Renewal.” stressed the need for continuous evolution, innovation, and collaboration to ensure long-term resilience, efficiency, and global relevance.
According to him, We must continuously evolve, anticipate emerging trends and adopt innovative approaches that ensure long-term resilience, efficiency, and global relevance,
Ganduje who expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for his Renewed Hope Agenda, which has led to reforms revitalising Nigeria’s airports and strengthening the aviation ecosystem, also appreciated the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, for his vision and support, emphasised the need for stakeholders to work together to build a modern, efficient, and innovative FAAN that is financially sustainable and globally competitive.
“We must strengthen our leadership culture, accelerate modernisation, invest in staff welfare and capacity development, and improve operational efficiency,” Ganduje said.
He encouraged open dialogue, honest reflection, and constructive engagement, urging participants to “question assumptions, propose new ideas, and challenge ourselves to think boldly.”
Also, in her opening remarks at the retreat, the Managing Director and Chief Executive of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, highlighted three key pillars for the authority’s future: Leadership, Modernisation, and Strategic Renewal.
“I want to reaffirm that FAAN, under my leadership, operates on a clear, open-door policy,” she said, adding that this approach fosters innovation, transparency, and collaborative problem-solving.
Kuku emphasized the importance of enhancing infrastructure, ensuring all airports are safe, secure, and welcoming. “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 stressed.
She expressed her appreciation to the Board Chairman, Umar Ganduje, and members of the Board for their dedication and guidance. “Your presence here signifies a shared determination to steer this Authority toward its full potential,” she said.
Also, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Aviation, Senator Abdulfai Buhari, commended the FAAN for its impressive contributions to the country’s socio-economic development, encouraging the agency to, however, do more.
Similarly, while presenting his goodwill message, the Chairman, House Committee on Aviation, Hon. Abdullahi Garba, who was represented by his Vice, Hon. Festus Akingbaso, urged FAAN to prioritise safety, sustainability, and passenger experience.