Chinedu Eze
On December 18, 2023, the newly appointed Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs. Olubunmi Oluwaseun Kuku, met with the top officials of the agency and media to unveil her plans on how to sustain the efforts of her predecessors and also carve a niche for the organisation and move it forward.
What is special about her appointment is that she was the first woman appointed as Managing Director of FAAN, which is like an octopus with about 24 airports under its management. What was also discernible on the day she addressed the organisation’s officials was her youthful looks, reinforcing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s inclination to appoint young men and women to handle strategic agencies of government.
That was over100 days ago and so much has happened since then. Within the period, feedbacks from workers and other industry stakeholders revealed that Mrs. Kuku has kept the agency on a good pedestal and from what she has done so far, there is brimming hope that FAAN will experience unprecedented transformation, as indicated by the foundation she had laid so far.
Within this period also, she was able to weather the storm of the relocation of the headquarters of FAAN from Abuja to Lagos through strategic information management; when Nigerians were made to know that it was the right decision to safe the agency from going bankrupt and also to improve the output of the personnel.
After almost one year under reconstruction, Mrs. Kuku was able to reopen the 3.9-kilometre Runway 18R/36R at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos used mainly for international operations.
During the closure of the runway, many international airlines had complained about the inconvenience of landing at the alternative runway, Runway 18L, known as the domestic runway, as they burn more fuel taxing from the international terminal to the runway.
The reopening of the international runway eased heavy traffic on the domestic runway, as all the flights were using only one runway before then and encountered delays while landing and taking off.
In order to witness first-hand the operations at the international terminal of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, the country’s busiest gateway, the Managing Director went on inspection of activities at the terminal during peak hours and discovered the chaos going on, which she made efforts to stop. She was able to deploy security operatives at strategic locations at the facility to ensure that those who are not travelling do no access the terminal in order to avoid congestion.
She also directed that VIP vehicles which hitherto blocked the entrance to the terminal were kept at bay, while the drop off zone rule was strictly adhered to avert vehicular congestion at the entrance of the terminal.
In the last 100 days, Mrs. Kuku had spearheaded the successful completion of the training of 201 officers and men of Aviation Security (AVSEC) in the training and retraining programme. She established the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) at the Lagos and Abuja airports to attend to critical exigencies in the course of operational activities. She has also seen to the provision of communication equipment, including 3000 units of hand-held radios (walkie-talkie-) as critical equipment for security operatives inside and outside airport terminals, to ensure efficient communication among the operatives. Before the recent procurement, only 300 units were in operation.
The Management Director of FAAN in February made a debut at the Airport Council International (ACI) Africa and succeeded in repositioning Nigeria to its prime place. Nigeria is one of the countries with the highest number of airports in Africa.
According to the Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, FAAN, Obiageli Orah, Mrs. Kuku, made a momentous debut at the 71st Airports Council International (ACI} Africa Board Meeting, Regional Committee Meetings Regional Conference and Exhibition, held in Cairo, Egypt, noting that her attendance marked a significant milestone for her leadership and the strategic advancement of FAAN.
“During the conference, Mrs. Kuku actively engaged in exclusive sessions tailored for airport chief executives and board members. These discussions revolved around governance, regulatory frameworks, and setting strategic directions for airports across the continent, emphasising collaborative governance models for enhanced operational efficiency and sustainability.
“A key focus of Mrs. Kuku’s attendance was fostering relationships with fellow CEOs and exploring potential partnerships to leverage innovative technologies for revolutionizing airport operations, passenger experiences, and safety standards.
“Under her guidance, collaborative discussions centered on integrating cutting-edge technology within airport ecosystems. Topics ranged from biometric screening to advanced baggage handling systems and digital passenger services, all aimed at establishing new benchmarks for passenger service excellence,” the Director said.
Back in Nigeria, Kuku recently hosted the unveiling of the reopened now Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Airport, Minna after massive rehabilitation in collaboration with the Niger state government.
The new facility is being expanded to accommodate cargo terminal and related facilities, while FAAN had revamped the passenger terminal, the runway and extended infrastructure.
During the reopening of the airport, Mrs. Kuku said, ““At FAAN, one of our key aspirations is to help grow Nigeria’s economy through the facilitation of exports. We believe that with some investments in the right areas, we can put a huge dent in the N3.6trillion worth of perishable goods lost annually. Therefore, we are excited that the Niger State Governor has promised to complete the cargo and international terminals within a short time. We encourage him to do so as we cannot wait to assist the ambitions of the state to be the biggest food producer and food exporter in the country.
“President Tinubu’s commitment to progress, innovation, and excellence is evident in all his policies and programmes and at FAAN, we are happy to have partnered with the equally visionary leadership of the Niger State Government, ably-led by Governor Bago, on the project.
Kuku had also stated at the Minna airport that the Nigerian economy and revenue drive would receive boost when the proper investments are made into the exportation of food and other perishables via air transportation, adding that FAAN had done much to improve infrastructure at the airport.
“The overhauling of the runway and construction of the passenger terminal in a very short timeline was a daunting task that required much expense and synergy between all parties involved. I am indeed grateful that this project will forever be seen as a symbol of our nation’s dedication to advancing infrastructure, enhancing connectivity, and fostering economic growth. We believe that the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Airport, Minna, will serve as a gateway to the world, facilitating trade, tourism, and collaboration on a global scale,” she said.
Mrs. Kuku, as commonly stated, has kept the flag flying, but Nigerian airlines and travellers would want FAAN to install airfield lighting at many airports that currently do not have the facility so that flights can land there in the night. FAAN is also expected to reinforce airport security to further secure the airports. Many stakeholders believe that with the pace recorded so far, Mrs. Kuku would actualize her set goals in the long run.
