Trouble is brewing at the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) due to the sudden movement of its procurement department to the Directorate of Corporate Services.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, and his associates allegedly orchestrated this move to gain unrestricted access to FAAN’s funds.
Stakeholders at FAAN are reportedly at odds over the attempted relocation of the procurement department to the Directorate of Corporate Services, sources told SaharaReporters
A memo dated October 7, 2024, from the Director of Human Resources and Administration, Dr. Luqman D. Emiola, to the Managing Director and 11 directors of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), confirmed that Keyamo issued the directive, which was with immediate effect.
As the aviation minister, he has been vocal about reforming the industry, but some of his methods have been met with skepticism and resistance.
The memo obtained by SaharaReporters, titled “Re: Reassignment of procurement department to the directorate of corporate services,” partly reads, “Further to the directive by the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, I write to formally inform you that Procurement Department of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has been reverted to the Directorate of Corporate Services.”
It added, “Consequently, Management hereby direct Procurement Department to report to the Directorate of Corporate Services. This directive takes immediate effect.”
Meanwhile, following the release of the memo, SaharaReporters learnt that officials and stakeholders in FAAN have been speaking against the directive by the minister, branding it as a plot to gain access to the finances of the aviation agency.
According to sources, the stakeholders also claimed that moving the procurement department to the Directorate of Corporate Service would allow Keyamo and his cronies to award contracts to themselves and whoever they desire without following laid down guidelines.
Peoplesmind