Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), has been quite active recently, with several key announcements and initiatives in the past few weeks that would have extended into “last week” (late June/early July 2025). Here’s a summary of her major activities and statements:
Key Activities and Statements:
* Automation of Payment Processes: A significant development announced by Mrs. Kuku is the commencement of automation of payment processes across Nigerian airports, starting with Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos. This initiative aims to promote transparency and accountability by requiring electronic cash registers (ECR) for payments, alongside the automation of toll gates and parking facilities. She also stated that the new system will integrate with BVN and NIN for enhanced security and identification on the domestic side.
* Increased Tariffs and Cashless Payments: As part of efforts to boost revenue and plug leakages, FAAN, under Mrs. Kuku’s leadership, is set to hike tariffs for service providers and introduce a cashless payment system across all airports. This is aimed at addressing the low percentage of non-aeronautical revenue currently generated by FAAN.
* Call for Private Sector Participation and Concession: Mrs. Kuku has been actively advocating for increased private sector participation in airport operations and emphasized the need for a transparent concession process. She reiterated that both the Minister of Aviation and the President are committed to this.
* Staff Welfare and Business Development: During a stakeholders’ forum and the Biennial FAAN Joint Trade Unions Conference, Mrs. Kuku reaffirmed FAAN’s commitment to improving staff welfare. She mentioned that newly negotiated conditions of service, developed with union participation, are ready for submission to the Ministry of Aviation. She also urged aviation stakeholders to prioritize investment in project development with a focus on market studies, feasibility assessments, and strong business cases to attract investors, particularly in cargo operations.
* Addressing Deplorable Medical Facilities: The FAAN MD highlighted the “deplorable” state of medical facilities at airports and stated that a plan is being reviewed to improve these facilities, including exploring the use of hospitals initially built by the ministry.
* Enforcement and Discipline: Mrs. Kuku has been keen on improving discipline and efficiency within airport environments. She directed non-essential tankers parked at airport premises to vacate or face sanctions and spoke about taking “drastic actions” against those violating rules. She also mentioned addressing issues like absenteeism among staff.
* Infrastructure Upgrades and Security: While some of these initiatives have been ongoing, Mrs. Kuku’s tenure has also focused on significant infrastructure upgrades (like the renovation of the Lagos airport’s Hajj terminal) and the deployment of advanced security machines (AI-powered Orion 927DX for explosives and narcotics detection). She also recently inaugurated armed Aviation Security (AVSEC) Special Force officers at key airports to beef up security.
These activities demonstrate FAAN’s focus on modernization, revenue generation, improved security, staff welfare, and attracting investment under Mrs. Kuku’s leadership.