FAAN relocation to Lagos is irreversible, with no possibility of going back — Keyamo

The relocation of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) headquarters from Abuja to Lagos is a decision that will not be reversed, according to Festus Keyamo, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development.

Keyamo stated this confidently during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today program. Despite opposition from Senator Ali Ndume and various northern groups, including the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) and the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), Keyamo emphasized that the move is necessary due to economic and operational factors.

He further explained that relocating the headquarters to Lagos would result in significant cost savings, as officials would no longer need to travel between Lagos and Abuja, saving the government and the people of Nigeria half a billion naira annually. Keyamo also mentioned that top FAAN officials and aviation unions supported the decision for improved operational efficiency.

President Bola Tinubu’s awareness of the decision was addressed by Keyamo, who stated that he takes responsibility for the decision as it falls under the jurisdiction of a minister. Keyamo further explained that only the headquarters of one aviation agency out of the seven in the country is being relocated from Abuja to Lagos.

He emphasized that when the previous minister, Hadi Sirika, moved the headquarters of all aviation agencies from Lagos to Abuja in 2020, there was insufficient provision made for the principal officers and their respective departments.

Keyamo clarified that the headquarters is where decision-makers convene, not where the majority of workers are located or where the largest building stands. He highlighted that out of the 132 workers at the head office, over 100 are based in Lagos, while only the directors are situated in Abuja without their support staff.

Keyamo also mentioned that the situation is exacerbated by the fact that the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) is not yet digitalized, resulting in significant expenses on flight tickets between Lagos and Abuja.

He revealed that in one year alone, close to half a billion naira, specifically N450m, was spent solely on flight tickets for officials frequently traveling between the two cities to obtain signatures on documents.