Tinubu Appoints Keyamo to Lead APC Campaign’s Air Mobilisation Directorate

President Bola Tinubu has appointed the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, to lead the All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign’s Directorate of Air Mobilisation for his re-election campaign.

Under the arrangement, the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Olubunmi Kuku, and Farouk Umar have been named Deputy Director I and Deputy Director II, respectively.

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Keyamo’s Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Tunde Moshood, announced the appointments in a statement, explaining that the directorate would coordinate air transportation and logistics for designated campaign officials and staff across the country.

The appointments place the aviation minister at the head of a campaign unit expected to support the movement of personnel for political activities across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.

Directorate to Coordinate Nationwide Campaign Flights

According to Moshood, the directorate was established because air transportation and logistics would play an important role in coordinating campaign activities across the country.

Its responsibilities will include organising air travel for designated campaign officials and staff, planning flights and meeting the movement requirements associated with campaign events in different parts of Nigeria.

The directorate is also expected to work with other campaign units to coordinate logistics and ensure the efficient use of available resources.

Moshood said the arrangements would be carried out in line with aviation regulations and applicable electoral laws.

The statement did not provide details of the directorate’s budget, the number of aircraft expected to be used or whether the campaign would rely on chartered flights, privately operated aircraft or other arrangements.

Why Keyamo Was Chosen

The statement described Keyamo as a minister with experience in the aviation sector and said his familiarity with the industry’s operational requirements would help him coordinate the directorate’s activities.

It added that his leadership was expected to support the development of an effective framework for planning air movements during the campaign.

“His familiarity with the operational demands of the aviation industry is expected to provide useful leadership in coordinating the directorate’s activities and establishing an effective framework for air-mobilisation planning,” the statement said.

Keyamo’s appointment places him in a campaign logistics role alongside his responsibilities as minister. The announcement, however, did not specify how the duties would be coordinated with his ministerial schedule.

FAAN Managing Director, Farouk Umar Named Deputies

Kuku and Umar will serve as deputy directors, bringing additional leadership and technical experience to the new unit, according to Moshood.

The statement said their inclusion was intended to strengthen the directorate’s capacity to handle the planning and coordination demands associated with nationwide campaign movements.

Kuku heads FAAN, the agency responsible for managing federal airports in Nigeria. Her appointment places the head of a major aviation agency in a role within the campaign’s air-mobilisation structure.

The statement did not outline the specific responsibilities assigned individually to Kuku and Umar beyond their designated deputy director positions.

Campaign Logistics Across Six Geopolitical Zones

Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones provide the broad regional framework referenced in the directorate’s mandate. Coordinating travel across the country can involve scheduling, airport access, personnel movement and adjustments to campaign itineraries.

The new unit is expected to coordinate these requirements with other campaign teams to support events in different locations.

The statement emphasised that the directorate would operate in accordance with aviation regulations and electoral laws. It did not, however, provide further details about the procedures for funding, booking or overseeing the planned flights.

Focus Turns to Implementation

The appointments mark the creation of a dedicated structure for air transportation within Tinubu’s re-election campaign.

Its effectiveness will depend on how the directorate coordinates travel plans, manages operational requirements and works with other campaign units as activities unfold.

The announcement provides the leadership structure and broad responsibilities of the directorate but leaves several operational details, including its budget and flight arrangements, unspecified.