Revitalising Nigerian Airports: FAAN creates new directorates for enhanced operations

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), has announced the establishment of new directorates within the agency to infuse fresh ideas and innovations into the nation’s airports operations and management.

The Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, FAAN, Mrs Obiageli Orah disclosed to aviation journalists today – April 15, 2024 – that under the visionary leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, the agency has undergone significant transformations. 

She explained that the former Corporate Affairs department has been elevated into the Directorate of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, and new directorates such as Special Duty and Cargo Development and Services have been created to meet global standards in airport management.

Mrs. Obiageli made this announcement while hosting the new Executive members of the League of Airport and Aviation Correspondents (LAAC) at her office in Lagos. 

She emphasised the commitment of FAAN to provide top-notch services to Nigerians and travellers across the country’s airports.

Obiageli said, “FAAN has gone through tremendous changes in the past few months. We’ve added some new directorates to the existing ones; I will start with my directorate which is public affairs and consumer protection. 

“It is relatively a new one because we had corporate affairs but now christened public affairs and consumer protection, we also added a directorate of cargo development and services which deals with everything regarding cargo and hajj operations. 

“We now also have a special duty directorate, one I will describe as an interventionist directorate that helps the agency intervene in any situation as the case may be.”

Reflecting on the agency’s evolution, Mrs. Obiageli highlighted the importance of each directorate in enhancing passenger experience, safety, and comfort. 

She stressed FAAN’s dedication to ensuring seamless operations and the efficient movement of goods, thereby fostering national pride among Nigerians.

“The passengers that pass through the airports deserve the best because they pay money, they buy tickets and pay taxes on those tickets and all that. So we feel and know that they deserve the best. So that is why security of all passengers is very important; the safety and comfort of all our passengers are paramount to our operations.”

“And you talk about the services we render like seamless movement at the airports and of course the movement of goods from one point to the other without any form of damage or challenges. 

“When you look at all these, it gives you an idea of the vision that this administration has for Nigerians and where we are heading to.

“We want Nigerians to be proud when they talk about FAAN, when they are passing through the airports, we want them to be proud of being citizens of this great country and the agency responsible for managing the airports on their behalf,” she added.

In response, LAAC Chairman, Suleiman Idris, pledged the association’s unwavering support in advancing the vision of the new administration and holding the aviation sector’s leadership accountable through responsible journalism.