…FAAN MD Olubunmi Kuku, Farouk Umar named deputies
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, to head the Directorate of Air Mobilisation of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council for the 2027 general election.
Under the arrangement, the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, has been named Deputy Director I, while Engr. Farouk Umar will serve as Deputy Director II.
The appointments place aviation-sector leadership at the centre of the APC’s plans for coordinating air transportation and related logistics for Tinubu’s re-election campaign across the country.
The Directorate of Air Mobilisation is expected to coordinate air-travel arrangements for designated campaign officials and personnel, facilitate movement between campaign locations and support logistical planning across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
Given the geographical spread of the country and the demands of a nationwide presidential campaign, the directorate is expected to work with other campaign structures to ensure efficient scheduling, effective coordination and the deployment of appropriate logistical resources.
Its operations will be subject to applicable aviation safety requirements, electoral laws and other relevant regulations.
KEYAMO BRINGS AVIATION POLICY EXPERIENCE
Keyamo’s appointment brings the experience of a serving aviation minister to the campaign’s air-mobilisation structure.
As Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, he has been involved in policy initiatives aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s aviation industry, improving the country’s international aviation standing and positioning it as a competitive aviation hub in Africa.
His familiarity with aviation policy and industry operations is expected to support the directorate’s planning and coordination responsibilities.
The appointment of Kuku and Umar as deputy directors also brings aviation-sector leadership and technical expertise into the structure to support the planning demands associated with nationwide campaign movements.
Air transportation remains an important component of campaign logistics, particularly when political leaders and campaign officials must cover multiple locations within tight schedules. Effective coordination is therefore expected to be central to the directorate’s ability to support the wider campaign organisation.
The directorate’s performance will depend on collaboration with other campaign units, clear operational procedures and compliance with aviation safety standards and relevant laws.
Campaign-related activities are also expected to remain distinct from official government functions, with all arrangements undertaken through duly authorised channels.
The APC is organising its preparations for the 2027 general election through its Presidential Campaign Council, which brings together political leaders and designated directorates to coordinate campaign activities.