The minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, has announced a replacement for the managing director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Capt Rabiu Yadudu, whose tenure has expired.
Sirika replaced Yadudu with Kabir Yusuf Mohammed after the expiration of the erstwhile FAAN boss tenure on Saturday, May 20, 2023.
LEADERSHIP reports that President Muhammadu Buhari appointed Capt. Yadudu as FAAN MD, on a single tenure of four years on May 20, 2019.
Speaking to LEADERSHIP, the secretary general, Aviation Round Table Initiative (ARTI), Capt. John Ojikutu (rtd), revealed that Capt. Yadudu has been replaced.
Though, LEADERSHIP’s effort to confirm from the authorities proved abortive as a text message sent to the spokesperson of FAAN, Faithful Hope-Ivbaze, was not replied as at the time of filing this report.
Meanwhile, it was gathered that the newly appointed MD, Kabir Mohammed, was until the new appointment, the Regional General Manager, North-Central, FAAN, with base at the Abuja Airport.
The appointment of the new MD comes as a surprise to many stakeholders considering the few days left for the incumbent Minister of Aviation to leave office.
Virtually all the Directors, according to a competent source, were affected, except one in what was described as last-minute shake-up in the regulatory Agency by the outgoing Minister.
Kabiru Yusuf Mohammed who is coming with wealth of experience in Airport Management had worked in various public and private organisations.
He had a brief stint at the Presidency, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (1992-1994), General Services Office and Ecological Fund Office.
He was at the State House, Office of the Head of State, Commander-in-Chief (Principal Secretary’s Office 1994 – 1998); Special Assistant to the Minister of Environment (1999); Special Assistant to the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development 2000; Personal Assistant to the Chairman, National Fertilizer Company of Nigeria, Port-Harcourt (2001); Personal Assistant to the Chairman, Frenchies Limited (2002); Personal Assistant to Chairman, A & Hatman Limited; Admin. Manager, Interlinks Insurance, Abuja and Admin.
Other posts held included Manager, First Medical and Sterile Products, Calabar (2003 – 2006); Special Assistant to the Managing Director of Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria 2006 – 2007); Head of SERVICOM, MAKIA, FAAN, Kano (2008 – 2009); Chief Liaison Officer, FAAN Liaison Office, Abuja (2009 – 2014); Chief of Staff to the Managing Director/CEO, FAAN Headquarters, Lagos (2014 – 2017).
He was Director, Lagos Operations, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (2017 – 2020). Back to FAAN, he became General Manager-Special Duties (2020 – 2022).
Prior to this appointment, he was appointed as the Chairman, Aviation Roadmap Implementation Committee in January 2022 by the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika.
He has undertaken International Civil Aviation Organization/Airport Council International (ICAO/ACI) Courses on Air Transport System (Gulf Centre for Aviation Studies, Abu Dhabi); Airport Operations Safety and Security; Airport Commercial and Financial Management and Airport Planning, Development and Environmental Management. Airport Safety Management System Implementation at GMR Aviation Academy India. Attended the Airport Environment Management Course at GCAS Abu Dhabi, UAE in fulfilment of the requirement for the attainment of certification as an International Airport Professional.
He is an alumnus of the International Visitors Leadership Program of the United States Government in 2007 (Transparency and Good Governance). He has a diploma in Airport Executive Leadership ACI/Concordia University.
He also has a Certificate on Integrated Safety Management System from Singapore Aviation Academy.
He has a Management Certificate in Civil Aviation from ICAO/Concordia University comprising of Certificate in Strategic Management, Certificate in Human Resources and Certificate in Business Strategy. He also has certificate in Runway Safety Management (ACI); Certificate in Airport Business Operations (ACI). Other certificates include Airport User Charges, ACI, Panama.
Also, Human Resources Management, IATA Singapore. Procurement and Financial Management, PSIN Abuja. Global Trends and their impact on air transport, ACI/ICAO Montreal.
