The recently concluded 3rd FAAN National Aviation Conference has set a bold new direction for Nigeria's air travel sector, with key leaders outlining ambitious plans for growth and global collaboration. The event, held at the Eko Hotel & Suites in Lagos on November 17, 2025, brought together industry experts, investors, and stakeholders under the theme of elevating the industry through partnerships.
Leadership and Vision: A New Era for FAAN
The conference marked a significant moment for the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), showcasing its newly constituted leadership. For nearly fourteen years prior, FAAN operated without a Governing Board. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu corrected this anomaly by appointing a board chaired by Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and a management team led by Managing Director/CEO Mrs. Olubunmi Oluwaseun Kuku.
Dr. Ganduje, in his opening address, framed the two-day gathering as a critical forum to discuss policy, challenges, and investment opportunities within the nation's aviation ecosystem. He emphasized that the conference's theme was both apt and timely, addressing Nigeria's urgent need for regional and international collaboration to meet global standards.
Tinubu's Aviation Scorecard and Infrastructure Push
Dr. Ganduje presented a progress report on the Tinubu administration's impact on aviation over the past 30 months. He credited the Minister of Aviation & Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo SAN, and FAAN's management for driving tangible improvements.
Key infrastructure upgrades highlighted include the significant rehabilitation of three major international airports: Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos, and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja. Ganduje also revealed that the Kano airport is slated to get a second runway.
The FAAN Board, having begun oversight visits to airports across Nigeria's six geopolitical zones, used these fact-finding tours to shape the conference discussions. Ganduje stated that firsthand inspections of facilities in Kano and Lagos allowed for frank, unbiased deliberations on the industry's pressing issues.
Kuku's Call for Global Investment and Capacity Building
Echoing the call for collaboration, FAAN's Managing Director, Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, made a clarion call to world investors. She described the conference as historic and timely, noting that global aviation is in a phase of unprecedented rebound.
Citing projections from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and Airports Council International, Kuku positioned Africa—and Nigeria specifically—as the next frontier for growth. "These numbers are not just statistics; they are signals of billions of journeys, connections, and opportunities waiting to be unlocked," she said.
Kuku detailed ongoing federal investments, noting that six airports and several runways are currently undergoing government-funded modernisation. She also showcased FAAN's commitment to capacity building, revealing that the agency's training school has accredited 7,320 aviation personnel in the past two years alone.
Further strengthening global ties, FAAN has signed a groundbreaking Memorandum of Understanding with ATOM Aviation Training Services in Dubai. Internally, a Culture Change programme has reshaped the work ethics of over 4,000 FAAN employees, fostering a more professional and customer-focused workforce.
The Path Forward: Partnerships and Optimism
The conference facilitated deep discussions on airport commercialisation, safety, cargo development, revenue optimisation, and public-private partnerships. Stakeholders emerged with a shared sense of optimism, believing the reforms driven by the Presidential Renewed Hope Agenda policy directives can position Nigeria as the leading aviation hub in West and Central sub-Saharan Africa.
Dr. Ganduje concluded by reiterating the board and management's commitment to delivering world-class infrastructure, operational efficiency, and enhanced security and passenger experience. He affirmed that all airports across the six geopolitical zones are expected to wear a new look in terms of maintenance and international best practice by the third anniversary of the Tinubu administration.
