The managing director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Olubunmi Kuku has restated her commitment to prioritising staff welfare, training and sustainable business development as pillars of her leadership.
She also urged aviation stakeholders to increase investments in project development to boost the sector’s attractiveness to investors and ensure long-term growth.
Kuku made these remarks on Monday, June 16, 2025, while delivering her opening address at the Biennial FAAN Joint Trade Unions Conference 2025, held at the Abdurahaman Danbazau Conference Centre (COCOS Hotel), Correctional Services, Airport Road, Abuja. She called for greater attention to feasibility studies, market research and robust business cases to improve the bankability of projects and attract private capital to Nigeria’s aviation industry.
Focusing on cargo operations as an area of significant potential, Kuku explained that FAAN has already set up a directorate of cargo development and services but stressed that more data-driven studies and clear return-on-investment plans are needed to boost investor confidence in cargo infrastructure.
On staff welfare, Kuku reassured employees of FAAN’s continued efforts to improve their working conditions and benefits. She announced that the newly negotiated conditions of service, developed collaboratively with union representatives, are ready to be forwarded to the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development for necessary approval. She further disclosed that FAAN is reviewing its staff training programmes and international travel budgets to ensure fair opportunities for broader staff participation in capacity-building initiatives.
Addressing concerns about the quality of staff medical facilities, Kuku admitted that improvements are needed and revealed that FAAN is exploring partnerships to expand access to better healthcare services for its workforce. She also confirmed that plans are underway to procure additional operational vehicles for airports and renovate staff residential quarters to provide more decent living conditions for employees and their families.
In terms of airport operations, she underlined the importance of implementing key performance indicators (KPIs) to enhance accountability and operational efficiency among airport managers and heads of departments. Mrs Kuku praised the aviation unions – NUATE, ATSSSAN and ANAP – for their constructive collaboration with FAAN management, urging them to use the ongoing conference to craft strategies that will advance the industry without conflict.
She described the conference as a vital forum for discussing issues, encouraging delegates to adopt a culture of fairness and accountability in safety practices, while also promoting a just transition to more sustainable aviation practices in line with global trends.
In a statement issued by FAAN’s director of public affairs and consumer protection, Obiageli Orah, Kuku reaffirmed management’s openness to honest dialogue and practical problem-solving, encouraging union leaders to articulate solutions that balance employee aspirations with the operational realities of the aviation sector.
She urged all participants to approach the conference with foresight and unity, stressing that collective effort, rather than confrontation, remains the most effective way to protect jobs, uplift service conditions, and steer Nigeria’s aviation industry toward a stronger, more resilient future.
