Newly appointed Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs Olubunmi Kuku yesterday urged workers of the authority to brace up in actualising the agenda of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration for the aviation sector.
This according to her include: improving passengers’ experience, scaling up safety and security measures, benchmarking services in line with international standards as well as optimising revenue generation from aeronautical and non–aeronautical sources.
Speaking at a maiden meeting with senior personnel of the authority at its Lagos Regional Headquarters,
Mrs Kuku said her mission in FAAN is not start afresh, but continue the legacies of her predecessors in office because the airport authority as an institution important for the nation’s economy.
Kuku said she will study the handover notes given to her to enable her understand the issues and areas requiring urgent interventions.
She promised to build on past successes, ensuring professionalism with focusing on revenue generation, performance and if the need arises re-evaluation and recalibration.
Receiving the handover from the Legal Advisor, Mrs. Bridget Onyemesi Gold, Mrs Kuku said, “We do not need start afresh but build and improve on the past.”
Highlighting FAAN’s significance as Nigeria’s gateway, Mrs Kuku stressed the need for standard hospitality, protocols, and learning from global and national environments.
She outlined her mission to enhance FAAN’s viability as a national asset optimisation avenues to improve our services while minimising waste.
“I want to drive on the viability of FAAN as a national asset, this is critical and not negotiable. We will improve on professionalism especially on security, safety and standards.
“Revenue generation is important and will be optimised and we will minimise waste. My mission is to make sure to increase both aeronautical and non- aeronautical revenue.”
Mrs Kuku encouraged staff commitment assuring periodic reviews and recalibration as the dynamic aviation sector demands constant monitoring and adaptation.
She said during the course of implementation of the mission, FAAN will check itself.
Kuku said, “We monitor own performance and will reset where it need to, if there is any calibration because the sector is not static.”
She emphasised collaboration with other sister agencies including the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), whose acting Director General, Captain Chris Najomo is already offering useful insights.
She said FAAN under her watch will consolidate engagement s with both local and international organisations including the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
Kuku said she will also engage unions in the sector on the best ways to achieve workers welfare which would require adequate performance.
She spoke of plans to scale up airport operational infrastructure both on the land and airside to achieve optimum user experience.
