President Bola Tinubu has appointed Aviation and Aerospace Development Minister Festus Keyamo to lead the All Progressives Congress (APC) Directorate of Air Mobilisation for his 2027 re-election campaign.
Under the arrangement, Keyamo will serve as director, while the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Olubunmi Kuku, has been named Deputy Director I. Engr. Farouk Ahmed Umar will serve as Deputy Director II.
The appointments were announced in a statement issued on Sunday by Tunde Moshood, Keyamo’s Special Adviser on Media and Communications.
According to the statement, the appointments reflect the importance of air transportation, aviation logistics and operational coordination in organising a nationwide presidential campaign across Nigeria.
The directorate is expected to coordinate air travel for designated campaign officials and personnel, organise movement schedules and support campaign activities across the country’s six geopolitical zones.
It will also work with other campaign structures to ensure effective planning and coordination of air transportation, particularly as campaign officials are expected to cover several locations within tight schedules.
The statement said Keyamo’s experience as aviation minister was expected to strengthen the directorate’s operations, citing his involvement in policies aimed at improving Nigeria’s aviation sector, enhancing its international standing and positioning the country as a major aviation hub in Africa.
“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.
It added that the appointment of Kuku and Umar would bring aviation-sector leadership and technical expertise to the directorate, helping it manage the logistical demands of the campaign.
The statement further explained that the directorate would be responsible for structured planning, coordination with relevant stakeholders, efficient scheduling and appropriate logistical arrangements.
However, it stressed that the effectiveness of the directorate would depend on cooperation with other campaign teams, clear operational procedures and compliance with aviation safety requirements and applicable electoral laws.
The statement also emphasised the need to maintain a clear separation between political campaign activities and official government functions, noting that campaign-related arrangements must be handled through properly authorised channels.
Tinubu’s 2027 re-election campaign is being organised under the APC Presidential Campaign Council, which brings together political leaders and designated directorates to coordinate the party’s preparations for the forthcoming general election.
