Ganduje Calls for Unity Among Aviation Agencies to Boost Sector Growth
National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Chairman of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Board, Alhaji Abdulahi Ganduje, has called for enhanced collaboration among aviation agencies to drive the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
During a working visit to FAAN on Tuesday, Ganduje emphasized the need to eliminate institutional rivalry, which he noted as a major impediment to achieving sector-wide improvements. He also toured facilities at Lagos International Airport, identifying key challenges facing the authority.
He stated: “My request here is for collaboration. I hope there is no institutional rivalry. Wherever you have a function to be executed by different institutions, sometimes if care is not taken, there will be rivalry, and at the end of it, whatever you do, if the other institution or agency has not done its homework, then you find out that the overall objective is defective.”
He urged FAAN’s Managing Director, alongside heads of other agencies, to work together in fulfilling the President’s aviation reform agenda.
Ganduje further stressed the importance of organizational synergy, noting that success hinges on cooperation among directorates. “Organizational structure is also vital. We expect cooperation among directorates; no directorate itself will succeed without the cooperation of other directorates. So there should be a seamless understanding and synergy. I also call for more coordination,” he added.
The FAAN board chairman also encouraged aviation personnel to improve their work ethic, which he identified as a key factor in achieving the agency’s objectives.
“So, I believe we should improve on our disposition toward achieving the goals of FAAN. The difference between success and failure is motivation. What is your motive for the growth of the organization? Aside from remuneration, motivation by the organization, motivating yourself to improve the whole organization is very important. You must respect the hierarchy of the organization.”
Additionally, he urged FAAN’s management, led by Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, to set clear timelines for the implementation of budgetary projects.
“Also, in the implementation of your budget, you should have a timeline so that you know exactly where and when you want to achieve something because delay means a lot. Inflation comes in, deterioration comes in, vandalization comes in, then you will notice nobody is giving attention to anything and people will develop apathy.”
On the state of the Lagos International Airport, Ganduje acknowledged progress while noting existing challenges.
“We have seen some facilities. We have seen some equipment. We have seen some appliances, and we have also seen the environment. We have also taken note of the challenges, as explained by the MD in the morning session. So, my impression is that the agency is blessed with a competent managing director and directors because I have seen signs of motivation, seriousness, and achievement.”
FAAN Managing Director, Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, outlined the agency’s 2025 priorities, which include safety enhancements, security measures, airport recertification, and runway renovation projects.
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She stated: “For this year 2025, we started last year with safety and security on the runway in the airside. We have now started to implement that. So, we have an enhanced safety policy that we recently rolled out last year, and we are making sure that in line and close collaboration with the NCAA, we are deploying that very closely. We are also embarking on the Kano and Port Harcourt recertification.”
Kuku also highlighted ongoing projects, including terminal renovations, improved passenger experience initiatives, and upgraded security equipment for international airports. “About two days ago, we just started the process of replacing our security equipment. We have now introduced several explosive detection devices, which will help ensure that our environment is safe and secure.”
As FAAN pushes forward with its development agenda, stakeholders in the aviation sector will be watching to see how Ganduje’s call for collaboration translates into concrete progress.
