The Federal Government has officially cancelled the nationwide sale of staff residential quarters belonging to the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN). This major policy shift directly impacts both retired and serving agency personnel who had previously bought their official residences through the owner-occupier scheme.
Minister Keyamo Announces Federal Executive Council Decision
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, made the announcement in Abuja. He revealed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, acting through the Federal Executive Council (FEC), approved the immediate exclusion of all FAAN properties situated within and around airport environments from any form of disposal to private individuals.
Keyamo explained that this decisive move addresses long-standing concerns regarding the sale of government-owned assets in sensitive airport locations. He traced the practice of selling these quarters back to the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Security and Operational Imperatives Behind the Reversal
The minister emphasized that airport environments are officially designated as security zones. He argued that these areas are unsuitable for private residential use, particularly for individuals raising families, due to inherent risks and operational necessities.
Keyamo stressed that properties around airports should be reserved for essential airport personnel who need to be close to their posts for rapid response. This includes critical staff such as:
- Fire service officers
- Air traffic controllers
- Other core operational workers
He firmly stated that allowing private individuals to occupy these quarters, based on security considerations, compromises the safety and efficiency of airport operations.
Implications and Resolution of Existing Claims
This government decision arrives amidst existing controversy, particularly concerning FAAN staff quarters in Kano. In Kano, some retired and serving staff had claimed ownership of their official accommodation after completing payments under the owner-occupier scheme.
With the latest approval from the Federal Executive Council, all such transactions are now rendered invalid. This action forcefully reaffirms the government's stance that airport-related properties must remain under public control. The primary reasons for this are to ensure seamless operational functionality and to uphold stringent security protocols at the nation's airports.
The nullification underscores a strategic pivot towards recentralizing control over critical aviation infrastructure, prioritizing national security over previous privatization efforts within these sensitive zones.
