BY OLAPEJU OLUBI
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development have intensified collaboration on sector reforms, as Permanent Secretary Mahmud Adam Kambari undertook a strategic familiarisation visit to FAAN headquarters in Ikeja, Lagos, on Monday, April 20, 2026.
The visit served as a renewed platform for aligning priorities around efficiency, investment mobilisation, governance reforms, and improved service delivery across Nigeria’s aviation sector, with senior officials from both institutions in attendance.
Push for tighter coordination and operational efficiency
Welcoming the Permanent Secretary, FAAN Managing Director/Chief Executive, Olubunmi Kuku, presented a detailed overview of the Authority’s operational structure, ongoing reforms, and strategic direction in managing Nigeria’s airport infrastructure network.
She noted that FAAN continues to operate within significant structural and financial constraints, including pension liabilities, reconciliation processes with the Ministry of Finance, rising energy costs, and evolving security demands that require continuous staff training and system upgrades.
Despite these pressures, Kuku stressed that the Authority has sustained measurable gains in service delivery and institutional capacity building.
According to her, thousands of aviation personnel and stakeholders have undergone structured training across aviation security, engineering, airport operations, safety management, environmental systems, and other technical areas aimed at strengthening professionalism across the sector.
She also highlighted improvements in passenger facilitation processes, enhanced workforce welfare initiatives, and ongoing cultural transformation driven by FAAN’s Acculturalization Programme, designed to reshape staff attitude and operational discipline.
A key highlight of her presentation was the successful recertification of both Murtala Muhammed International Airport and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, which she described as a strong endorsement of FAAN’s compliance with global aviation safety and security standards, alongside improved inter-agency collaboration.
Kambari pushes PPPs, procurement reforms, energy rethink
In his response, Permanent Secretary Mahmud Adam Kambari commended FAAN’s leadership for its resilience and reform-driven initiatives, noting that the Authority had demonstrated commitment to improving operational standards despite systemic challenges.
He, however, outlined key policy expectations aimed at strengthening sector performance and long-term sustainability.
Kambari stressed the urgent need to expand Public-Private Partnership (PPP) frameworks as a central strategy for attracting capital investment into airport infrastructure and reducing fiscal pressure on government.
He further called for improved transparency, discipline, and efficiency in contract administration processes across the aviation value chain, stating that governance integrity remains critical to investor confidence.
The Permanent Secretary also advocated the professional certification of procurement officers, aligning their competencies with international best practices to improve accountability and reduce inefficiencies in procurement processes.
On workforce management, he urged FAAN and other agencies to adopt more strategic manpower planning models that reflect Nigeria’s current fiscal realities while ensuring operational effectiveness.
He additionally raised concern over the sector’s rising energy costs, calling for a comprehensive review of power generation and energy management systems across airports to ensure more sustainable and cost-efficient operations.
Facility inspection underscores operational realities
The engagement concluded with a detailed inspection tour of facilities at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, where the Permanent Secretary was briefed on ongoing infrastructure projects, operational systems, and service delivery mechanisms.
The tour provided direct exposure to FAAN’s operational environment, allowing the Ministry to assess progress made as well as identify areas requiring further intervention and investment.
Shared reform agenda takes shape
Both FAAN and the Ministry reaffirmed their commitment to a shared reform agenda focused on strengthening governance structures, enhancing operational efficiency, and repositioning Nigeria’s aviation industry for greater global competitiveness.
The engagement is widely seen as part of a broader push to harmonise policy direction with operational execution, as the sector intensifies efforts to attract private capital, modernise infrastructure, and improve passenger experience across airports nationwide.
Olapeju is a journalist and aviation reporter.
