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Tag: Olubunmi Kuku

  • Why FAAN thrives under Olubunmi Kuku

    Why FAAN thrives under Olubunmi Kuku

    By Afolabi Idowu

    Since assuming leadership of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) in late 2023, Mrs Olubunmi Kuku has steered the Authority through one of the most consequential periods in its history.

    Confronted with legacy infrastructure deficits, systemic revenue leakages, operational bottlenecks, and eroding passenger confidence, Kuku’s tenure has marked a decisive pivot from reactive management to proactive transformation. Two years on, FAAN is not only stabilised—it is ascending.

    Kuku’s administration has been overhauling infrastructure and operations strategically through execution of high-impact capital projects aimed at restoring operational integrity and elevating service delivery.

    Within her first quarter, FAAN completed the long-delayed rehabilitation of Runway 18R/36L and Taxiway B at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos—restoring full 24-hour operations through the replacement of critical airfield lighting systems. This was followed by the expansion of the Domestic Terminal (formerly GAT) and the commissioning of premium lounges, which significantly decongested passenger flow and enhanced comfort.

    The MMIA Rehabilitation and Expansion Project, currently underway, represents the most substantial single investment in Nigeria’s aviation infrastructure. Backed by the Federal Government, the project will modernise terminal architecture, integrate advanced passenger processing systems, and upgrade airside facilities—positioning MMIA as a regional hub of international repute.

    Through nationwide modernisation and operational resilience, Olubunmi has extended across the network FAAN’s infrastructural momentum. New airfield lighting systems have been installed at Enugu and Ilorin, while the domestic terminal in Minna has been commissioned. Power and HVAC system upgrades in Kano, Katsina, and Jos reflect a strategic shift from cosmetic refurbishments to a more comprehensive asset renewal, ensuring operational reliability and scalability amid rising traffic volumes.

    On security and safety, a technology-driven paradigm under Kuku’s leadership, FAAN has embraced a security architecture anchored in global best practices. 

    The deployment of Smiths Detection screening systems with automated tray return mechanisms, coupled with extensive CCTV upgrades and the distribution of over 3,000 digital radios, has significantly enhanced situational awareness and response capability. These investments have yielded measurable improvements, as evidenced by strong performance in recent ICAO and TSA audits.

    The establishment of integrated access control systems and centralised emergency operations centres has reduced passenger screening times by up to 80% during peak periods. Following the aerodrome recertification of MMIA and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) in 2024, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) recently certified Mallam Aminu Kano and Port Harcourt International Airports—bringing the total to four certified international gateways, an unprecedented milestone in Nigeria’s aviation history.

    On financial reengineering and digital transformation, a cornerstone of Kuku’s reform agenda is financial sustainability. Through the implementation of a Regularisation Policy targeting encroached airport lands and the aggressive recovery of legacy debts, FAAN has significantly improved its revenue position. The Authority’s adoption of Microsoft Business Central ERP is streamlining financial workflows, enhancing transparency, and enabling real-time performance monitoring.

    Regarding passenger-centric reforms and service excellence, Kuku’s administration has embedded a passenger-first ethos across FAAN’s operations. Network-wide lounge refurbishments, the introduction of mother-and-child facilities, and enhanced support for passengers with reduced mobility—including dedicated hotlines and trained assistance staff—have redefined service delivery standards. A transparent refund policy and simplified complaint resolution mechanisms further reinforce FAAN’s commitment to customer satisfaction.

    In the area of human capital development and organisational alignment, Olubunmi recognizes that infrastructure is only as effective as the people who operate it, Kuku has prioritised workforce development. The implementation of the revised national wage structure, clearance of outstanding arrears, and rollout of targeted training programmes aligned with the FAAN 2025 Performance Roadmap have reinvigorated staff morale. A new Performance Management System ensures that individual contributions are aligned with institutional KPIs, fostering a culture of accountability and meritocracy.

    FAAN’s international footprint has expanded under Kuku’s stewardship. Strategic collaborations with the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) and the Nigerian Shippers’ Council are repositioning airports as multimodal trade enablers. Notably, her advocacy was instrumental in attracting West Africa’s first aircraft manufacturing and Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facility, with Abuja and Akure designated as host locations. Ongoing engagements with IATA and AviaDev are expected to catalyse new domestic and regional route development.

    Just last November, Mrs Kuku hosted the third FAAN National Aviation Conference (FNAC), which drew a host of state governors, international aviation experts, and investors to recognise opportunities and tap into them. Given her position as Vice President of Airports Council International – Africa, Nigeria is expected to become a hub for global conversations on the sector in the near future.

    Mrs Kuku’s leadership has redefined the expectations of what is possible within Nigeria’s aviation governance framework. Her approach—anchored in strategic foresight, disciplined execution, and stakeholder collaboration—has delivered tangible outcomes in record time. Her open-door leadership style and insistence on professionalism underscore a broader cultural shift—one that places collective responsibility and international compliance at the heart of FAAN’s transformation.

    As FAAN enters its next phase, the focus is on institutionalising reforms, deepening operational excellence, and transforming Nigeria’s airports into globally competitive hubs of connectivity and commerce. With Mrs Kuku at the helm, there is no better time to bet on Nigeria’s aviation industry.

    Afolabi Idowu, a media practitioner, writes from Lagos.

  • FAAN MD Kuku advocates measures to make airports economically viable

    FAAN MD Kuku advocates measures to make airports economically viable

    The Managing Director/Chief Executive of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, has proposed strategic measures to make several airports, including state government-built aerodromes, economically viable.

    Kuku acknowledged that while some of the airports, including 32 managed by FAAN on behalf of the Federal Government, have not yet attracted the expected financial returns, shutting them down is not an option.

    In an interview, Kuku highlighted that ongoing engagements with FAAN, concerned state governments, and development financing institutions are focused on steps to drive the viability of these airports.

    Key measures proposed by Kuku include increasing economic activity around the airports, improving infrastructure linkages, and ensuring well-maintained road networks and transit facilities leading to the airports.

    Additionally, she emphasized the importance of collaborating with relevant authorities to support cargo development around these airports.

    Citing FAAN’s partnership with the Lagos State Government, Kuku noted efforts are underway to construct a road in Alimosho Local Government Area to improve traffic flow around Lagos Airport.

    She also suggested that some of the affected airports could be repositioned to facilitate the distribution of agro-produce for both domestic consumption and export.

    Mrs Kuku said: “So you’ve already made the investment in infrastructure, so what you need to do is really to plug that investment so that you can improve. 

    “And if you’ve had conversations with me over the last few months, what I will say to you is that there are two things. 

    “One is the economics of the airports, which is viability, but secondly, is also the social impact that the airport brings into driving the economy, or at least helping us to turn around the economy, in terms of the interventions that we’re putting there.

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    “There are four critical areas that we’re focusing on, in terms of how we flood those airports and improving the state of the airport, so one is to increase economic activity around the airports. 

    “Our commercial and business development team, as well as myself, obviously, with the guidance of the  Minister, have worked very closely with some of the state governments in terms of what they can do.

    “One is largely around cargo. I think cargo is a sweet spot for us in the market. The states like Kano , Plateau ,  Ogun State,, they’re looking to drive cargo effectively as well. 

    “But it’s not just about building the infrastructure or investing more in the infrastructure on ground. It’s really making sure that there’s a feeder system that starts all the way from the bottom of the value chain to drive cargo, the various segments of cargo, I think agro produce is part of the critical areas that we have been looking at. This key, because agro produce  will accelerate the drive for food security, so distribution of food items in the market, specifically within Nigeria. 

    “Certain items that can be exported. What that means is that in terms of the bottom of the chain in the value system . FAAN is  working very closely with many development financing institutions  to aggregate the produce that need to go out. 

    “This partnership will ensure there is a  database that also focuses on packaging, logistics as well as putting place testing laboratories  around some of those airports, so that we can at least start to drive a lot more cargo activity.”

    She spoke on the need to develop the hospitality industry , such that activities related to tourism will drive economic activities.

    Kuku said: “Look, I think if we want to drive economic activity at these  airports, it is really to make sure that we’re able to drive the GDP growth, which are the key inhabitants. So that’s one. 

    “The second is really about improving the infrastructure linkage to the airport facilities, making sure that a collaboration between ourselves and the state government and, of course, at the federal level as well, making sure that the road network that leads into the airport, making sure that the transit facilities that are available.

    “I’ll give some examples, the Federal Capital Territory  for example, has a rail line that terminates at the airport. It makes it easier for people to come there, whether they’re traveling passengers or to conduct economic activity at the airport.

    “We recently had a meeting with the Lagos State Government this week, they do have a road that is coming in from Alimosho to  open up the area. So the linkage is very important in terms of making sure that we can actually drive this activity.” 

    While describing improvement on airports’ infrastructure as work in progress, the FAAN boss said efforts are ongoing to scale up  safety certification for more aerodromes. 

    She said: “So the Lagos and Abuja airports are two of our critical gateways. As you know, we have five international airports in Nigeria which  provide access to our international community. Before December, when those airports were certified, we were literally running airports that are not being certified, which is largely against the global standards.

    “There were a number of gaps that were identified. Some were safety and security related. Some had to do with the state of the infrastructure. Some had to do with policy and documentation. We were able to close a significant amount of gaps, but it doesn’t mean that the work stops. There’s still some work that needs to be done around those runways to make sure that we’re operating at optimal standards. 

    “And we’re working very closely with the Civil Aviation Authority on that, and that’s just two runways. The priority for the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and ourselves at an airport authority  is to make sure that we can certify the other international airports. 

    “The team has been working jointly and very closely over the last couple of weeks to make sure that we can achieve the same success that we did for Lagos and Abuja.”