The Federal Government’s efforts to reform Nigeria’s aviation sector got off to an ironic start yesterday as the newly-constituted FAAN board was inaugurated in a visibly rundown facility that highlighted the very infrastructure decay it was meant to address.
Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo presided over the ceremony at FAAN’s Abuja headquarters, where former Kano State governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje formally assumed office as Board Chairman. The appointment comes just three weeks after Ganduje’s sudden resignation as National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), citing health reasons.
However, the state of the venue quickly became the focus of attention, with official photographs revealing peeling paint and water-stained walls, broken ceiling panels in the boardroom, faded and torn window blinds and outdated furniture in the executive chambers.
Social media users quickly noted the irony of launching aviation reforms in a facility that itself requires urgent rehabilitation. “If this is how the regulatory body’s headquarters looks, what does that say about our airports?” tweeted @AviationWatchNG, capturing the public sentiment.
The controversy comes amid growing concerns about Nigeria’s aviation infrastructure, with multiple international airlines recently complaining about poor facilities at major airports. Just last month, British Airways temporarily suspended operations at the Port Harcourt International Airport due to “unsatisfactory terminal conditions.”
Minister Keyamo, in his inauguration speech, acknowledged the challenges but offered no specific timeline for renovations. “We are aware of the work ahead of us,” he stated. “This board’s first assignment will be to conduct a comprehensive audit of all FAAN facilities nationwide.”
Ganduje’s appointment has also drawn criticism from opposition figures who question his aviation credentials. PDP spokesperson Debo Ologunagba described the selection as “another case of political compensation rather than merit-based appointment.”
Aviation analysts warn that the visible neglect at FAAN headquarters reflects deeper systemic issues. “You can’t effectively regulate 21st century aviation from a facility stuck in the 1980s. This sends all the wrong signals to international partners,” said industry consultant Captain Dapo Olumide.
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