Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo Sounds Alarm Over Potential Dismissal
President Bola Tinubu's Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has expressed concerns about the possibility of being sacked from his position. The minister issued this warning during a visit to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) in Abuja on Friday, March 13, 2026. Keyamo emphasized that the implementation of the cashless policy at certain Nigerian airports is permanent and stated he would take preemptive action by sacking others before facing dismissal himself.
Keyamo Insists on Cashless Policy Implementation
Festus Keyamo has firmly declared that there is no reversal of the cashless policy introduced by the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) across major airports in the country. He made these remarks while conducting an on-the-spot assessment at NAIA. Keyamo explained that the adoption of a hybrid system, following President Tinubu's directive to suspend strict cashless policy enforcement, was due to operational challenges. He stressed his commitment to ensuring the policy's effective implementation to secure his job, vowing to dismiss numerous individuals preemptively if necessary.
In a statement, Keyamo said, "Before Mr President sacks me, I will sack other people too. Previously, I delegated full implementation to FAAN, but as minister, I take full responsibility. I will not leave my fate in the hands of another person. That’s why I am here today to see how they’re implementing the hybrid system. But this will not last because it breeds corruption." He acknowledged past reliance on FAAN for details but affirmed his oversight role.
Public Reactions to Keyamo's Comments
The minister's remarks about the sacking threat have sparked varied responses from Nigerians. Onyeani Kalu criticized civil servants, stating, "Nigeria's civil servants are the problem of Nigeria; they do not implement laws given to them to move the country forward." Abu suggested improvements, saying, "People should be able to get access cards elsewhere, not just at the airport entrance. A mobile app for funding and QR codes would enhance convenience."
JJK noted potential friction, commenting, "It appears there may be some friction between the minister and FAAN regarding responsibility for implementation. Shouldn’t this have been resolved internally?" Joseph Ambakederimo alleged corruption in service provider selection, claiming, "There was corruption in selecting the service providers, hence the company selected couldn't get it right. The company lacks competence." Olagunju Adeshina called for full policy implementation, urging, "Cashless policy must be brought back in full."
This development highlights ongoing tensions in Nigeria's aviation sector as the government pushes for digital transformation amid challenges and public scrutiny.
