Ganduje Takes Oath as Chairman of FAAN Board Days After APC Resignation
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has formally inaugurated the newly constituted Board of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), marking a significant step in the ongoing reorganisation and strategic repositioning of Nigeria’s aviation infrastructure management.
In a ceremony held in Abuja earlier today – Wednesday 9 July, 2025 – and attended by key stakeholders from the aviation sector, former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and immediate past Governor of Kano State, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, was sworn in as the Chairman of the FAAN Board.
His assumption of office comes barely a week after tendering his resignation as the head of the ruling political party.
Dr. Ganduje’s appointment to the position was approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in January 2025, but his formal inauguration was deferred until Wednesday’s event.
He now chairs a board comprising eight members drawn from critical federal ministries and institutions – including the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Defence, and the FAAN Managing Director/CEO.
Speaking at the ceremony, Minister Keyamo underscored the importance of effective governance and strategic oversight in the management of Nigeria’s airport infrastructure, stating that the board is expected to bring stability, innovation, and efficiency to the operations of FAAN.
He emphasised the need for synergy among board members in pursuit of President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, especially in the aviation sector.
Dr. Ganduje’s political transition from party leadership to a key position in the aviation sector comes amidst recent developments within the APC.
His resignation as National Chairman, announced via a statement by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, took immediate effect last week. The Deputy National Chairman (North), Ali Bukar Dalori, has since assumed the role of Acting National Chairman of the APC.
Dr. Ganduje previously became APC Chairman in August 2023 during a turbulent period in the party’s internal affairs.
His new appointment is widely seen as a move to leverage his political experience and leadership acumen in strengthening the governance framework of FAAN – an institution central to Nigeria’s airport development and management.
With the inauguration of the board, expectations are high that FAAN will witness enhanced policy direction, improved operational capacity, and greater responsiveness to the growing demands of both domestic and international air travel in Nigeria.
