Aviation governing boards Nigeria must be formed urgently, ANAP says, warning that delays threaten transparency, oversight, and safety in the sector

The call for the urgent formation of aviation governing boards Nigeria has intensified, as the Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP) urged Minister Festus Keyamo to act swiftly to restore oversight and transparency in the sector.

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Speaking to journalists in Lagos over the weekend, ANAP General Secretary AbdulRasaq Saidu commended the recent inauguration of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) board, but warned that this step must not be the last.

Last week, Minister Keyamo formally inaugurated the FAAN board, which had been pending for over six months since its appointment by President Bola Tinubu.

The board is chaired by Dr. Umar Ganduje, with FAAN Managing Director Olubunmi Kuku serving as vice-chair.

Members include representatives from key ministries and institutions such as Defence, Justice, Tourism, the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, and FAAN’s legal department.

Despite this milestone, Saidu stressed that the broader aviation sector still lacks critical oversight.

He noted that other agencies under the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development remain without functional boards, in violation of their enabling Acts.

“The absence of governing boards violates the enabling Acts that established these agencies,” Saidu said.

“Only properly constituted boards can enforce discipline, ensure due process in decision-making, and provide oversight to prevent corruption.”

The lack of boards, he explained, creates loopholes for abuse, including irregular contract awards, fraudulent recruitment, and unchecked mismanagement.

Saidu said aviation unions like ANAP have raised these concerns repeatedly, citing poor governance and transparency lapses under both past and current administrations.

Saidu specifically criticised former Aviation Minister Hadi Sirika, accusing him of failing to constitute agency boards throughout his eight-year tenure, despite having the authority and appointments made by ex-President Muhammadu Buhari.

“ANAP raised the alarm several times under Sirika’s leadership, but nothing changed. That lapse has continued under the current administration, and it must be addressed now,” he said.

The aviation professional community believes that reinstating functional boards will provide the structural oversight needed to enforce regulations, monitor executive actions, and uphold the integrity of the sector.

Calling on President Bola Tinubu, Saidu said appointing board members across all relevant aviation parastatals is essential not just for governance but for aviation safety.

The pressure to reform has mounted amid Nigeria’s push to modernise its aviation system and attract greater international investment.

Industry stakeholders argue that without structured oversight, reforms risk being undermined by administrative opacity and unchecked powers.

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The demand for urgent action reflects a broader push for accountability in public institutions and highlights the critical role of regulatory governance in the aviation industry’s future.