President Bola Tinubu has directed that all properties owned by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria within and around airports remain off-limits to private sale. The decision, confirmed by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, received the approval of the Federal Executive Council on Wednesday.
FAAN has long maintained residential and operational quarters near airport precincts, originally intended to house essential aviation staff, including air traffic controllers, rescue and firefighting personnel, security officers, and navigational technicians. In recent years, ownership disputes prompted FAAN to demolish some homes in Kano, emphasizing that these quarters were never formally sold or transferred to third parties.
Under the new directive, retired staff currently occupying FAAN properties may be relocated to make way for critical personnel. Keyamo explained that the move is meant to protect aviation operations and ensure that technical staff remain close to airports to respond quickly in emergencies.
This directive applies to all FAAN-owned properties nationwide. The minister noted that some of these properties had previously been listed for disposal by a presidential committee established during former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration.
“We sought approval from the Federal Executive Council to exclude properties owned by FAAN in and around airports from being sold to private individuals,” Keyamo said. He highlighted that this step resolves ongoing disputes with individuals claiming ownership under previous arrangements.
Keyamo emphasized the operational necessity: “Airports are environments where emergencies can happen at any moment. Essential staff such as firefighters, AVSEC officers, and navigational personnel need to stay within government quarters for rapid response.”
Reaffirming the government’s position, he added, “The President has confirmed that all these properties will not be disposed of to private individuals. Any claims of purchase are null and void. This directive ensures that airport operations remain efficient and safe.”
The announcement puts to rest long-standing controversies, prioritizing functional aviation operations and the safety of staff and passengers across Nigeria’s airports.
