The Federal Government has declared that all properties under the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) are public assets that cannot be sold or transferred to private individuals, in a renewed effort to safeguard national assets and strengthen aviation security.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, made this clarification while briefing journalists in Abuja on recent disputes involving airport quarters and other aviation facilities.
Keyamo said some individuals, including retired FAAN staff, have been misled by outdated directives from the defunct Presidential Implementation Committee (PIC) on Government Properties, wrongly assuming that airport quarters were covered under the former owner-occupier housing scheme.
“There has been a long-standing misconception. While the PIC sold some government residential properties years ago, airport properties were specifically excluded from that exercise because of their strategic importance to aviation security,” the Minister explained.
He disclosed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a new Federal Executive Council (FEC) memo reaffirming the government’s stance that FAAN properties within and around airports must remain under public ownership.
“Mr. President has now graciously directed that FAAN properties within and around airports must not, under any circumstances, be disposed of to private individuals. These are operational and safety-critical facilities that must remain under government control,” Keyamo emphasised.
The Minister stressed that airport environments must accommodate key operational staff, including firefighters, security officers, and technical experts who are required to live close to the airports to ensure prompt response to emergencies.
The FAAN management also backed the Minister’s position, warning individuals making false ownership claims to desist or risk prosecution.
The Authority reiterated its commitment to protecting aviation infrastructure and maintaining public trust.
“Our mandate is to maintain safety, efficiency, and integrity across all Nigerian airports. Protecting government property is part of protecting the nation’s aviation infrastructure,” FAAN’s management said in a statement.
