Barely two weeks after resigning as National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has landed a new high-profile federal appointment — this time as Chairman of the Board of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu announced the appointment on Tuesday during the formal inauguration of newly constituted FAAN board members in Abuja, signaling a quick political rebound for the former Kano State governor.
Ganduje, who led Kano for eight years and served as APC National Chairman from August 2023 until his sudden resignation on June 27, 2025, cited health reasons for stepping down. However, his reemergence in a strategic federal role has sparked fresh debate about political rotation, loyalty, and rehabilitation within the Tinubu administration.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria oversees the operations, safety, and modernization of all airports in the country — a sector critical to national infrastructure, trade, and tourism.
Observers say Ganduje’s new assignment reflects not only the President’s enduring trust in his political ally but also a broader strategy of repositioning key figures from the APC hierarchy into federal governance structures.
“This appointment could signal Ganduje’s reinvention from a party strategist into an institutional administrator,” a political analyst told City Post. “It also reinforces the belief that there are no permanent retirements in Nigerian politics — only redeployments.”
The former governor is now expected to steer major aviation reforms, improve airport infrastructure, and enhance public-private partnerships in the aviation sector.
With the Nigerian flag flying across multiple international terminals and ongoing efforts to make Nigeria a regional aviation hub, Ganduje’s appointment could either cement his legacy — or raise further scrutiny.
What’s clear is this: Abdullahi Ganduje is not done with public service yet — and Tinubu still has plans for him.