Ganduje Appointed FAAN Board Chairman Days After APC Exit

Barely days after stepping down as National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has been appointed as the Chairman of the Board of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN). The appointment, which has drawn widespread attention across political and aviation circles, was formally announced during the inauguration of the newly constituted board in Abuja.

Ganduje, a former two-term governor of Kano State and ex-national party leader, assumed this new federal role following his resignation from the APC leadership amid mounting internal pressure and factional disagreements. His appointment to the strategic aviation body is widely viewed as both a political realignment and a tactical redeployment by the presidency.

The Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development noted that Ganduje’s leadership and governance experience were key reasons for his selection. According to insiders, his administrative background and exposure to national politics positioned him as a “stabilizing figure” capable of steering FAAN’s board through ongoing reforms in the aviation sector.

A source at the ministry described Ganduje’s appointment as “a calculated move to bring experienced oversight to one of the most critical agencies in Nigeria’s transport infrastructure.” The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria is responsible for managing operations across the country’s major airports, a sector currently undergoing modernization and expansion.

Though the announcement has stirred mixed reactions online and in policy circles, officials maintain that the move was guided by a need to ensure continuity, stability, and strong leadership on the FAAN board as Nigeria seeks to attract more investment into its aviation space.

With Ganduje now leading the agency’s board, observers will be watching closely to see how he navigates his new role, especially after a high-profile exit from party leadership — and how this appointment fits into the broader political recalibration ahead of the 2027 elections.