The federal government fired the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Capt Rabiu Yadudu, on the weekend, just a week before the conclusion of the Buhari administration, and quickly replaced him with Kabir Yusuf Mohammed.
Yadudu’s initial four-year tenure is set to expire in a few weeks, and because the government wanted to give others a chance to lead the agency, he was fired.
Prior to his successor’s appointment, Kabir Mohammed was FAAN’s Regional General Manager, North Central, having an office at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
According to sources, Yadudu’s dismissal is just the beginning of a wave of layoffs that will affect other aviation agencies this week.
The appointment of the new FAAN MD at the tail end of an administration came as a shocker to the aviation industry.
Capt. Yadudu was appointed FAAN MD four years ago.
His successor, Mohammed, comes with a requisite experience in the public service.
He worked 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.
He has attended the (ICAO/ACI) Courses on Air Transport Systems (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 in Integrated Safety Management Systems from Singapore Aviation Academy.
He has a Management Certificate in Civil Aviation from ICAO/Concordia University comprising of a Certificate in Strategic Management, a Certificate in Human Resources and a Certificate in Business Strategy. He also has a certificate in Runway Safety Management (ACI); Certificate in Airport Business Operations (ACI). Other certificates include Airport User Charges, ACI, Panama.
Human Resources Management, IATA Singapore. Procurement and Financial Management, PSIN Abuja. Global Trends and their Impact on air transport, ACI/ICAO Montreal.