The Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo (SAN), has announced that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the exclusion of all properties owned by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN)—both within and around airport environments nationwide—from disposal to private individuals.
The announcement, which Keyamo made while briefing journalists after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the State House in Abuja, marks a decisive step by the Tinubu administration to strengthen national security, preserve aviation safety, and protect critical infrastructure within Nigeria’s airports.
Keyamo explained that the decision followed a recurring challenge stemming from past property disposal programmes initiated under the Presidential Implementation Committee (PIC) during former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration. That programme, which sought to sell select government-owned properties to private individuals under the owner-occupier scheme, explicitly excluded sensitive aviation facilities due to security and operational concerns.
However, over the years, several individuals have laid claim to ownership of quarters located within and around airport zones—properties originally designated for technical and emergency staff such as firefighters, air traffic controllers, and navigational engineers who must reside close to their duty posts for rapid response during emergencies.
Addressing the issue, Keyamo clarified that those properties were never part of the approved sale list and had always been considered critical operational assets essential for airport safety and emergency readiness.
“We have had situations where private individuals claim ownership of properties inside airport premises under the owner-occupier arrangement,” the Minister said. “But these facilities were never meant to be sold. They were excluded from the beginning for security and safety reasons. Now, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has graciously approved, through a formal FEC memo, that all FAAN-owned properties in and around airports are to be excluded from any form of private disposal.”
Keyamo further issued a public notice to all individuals or entities claiming ownership of such properties, warning that any purported transaction or title claim remains invalid and unenforceable.
“We are making this announcement to those who think they have bought or purported to have bought these quarters. We will not give those properties to them. Airports are high-security environments. Emergencies can happen at any time, and technical staff must live within government quarters for immediate response,” he emphasized.
The Minister described the decision as a corrective and forward-looking measure that will reinforce operational discipline within airport communities and safeguard Nigeria’s compliance with international aviation safety standards.
Aviation analysts have applauded the move, noting that it restores clarity and control to one of the most sensitive areas of airport management. They also described it as a strategic intervention that aligns with President Tinubu’s commitment to infrastructure integrity, public safety, and sustainable sectoral reform.
“This is about putting national interest above private interest,” one analyst noted. “By ensuring that FAAN retains ownership of these vital quarters, the government is preventing potential security breaches and improving emergency preparedness across all Nigerian airports.”
With the new FEC approval now formalized, the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development has reaffirmed its commitment to enforcing the policy nationwide and ensuring that all airport properties remain strictly under government control for the benefit of operational safety and national security.
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo (SAN), announces President Bola Tinubu’s approval to exclude all FAAN properties within and around Nigerian airports from private sale, reinforcing aviation safety and national security.
Discover more from Ameh News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
