THE Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has firmly stated that the decision to relocate the headquarters of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) from Abuja to Lagos is irreversible.
He made this clear during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today program.
Despite opposition from Senator Ali Ndume and various northern groups, Keyamo emphasized that the move is essential given current economic and operational circumstances.
He highlighted that relocating the headquarters to Lagos would lead to significant cost savings, as officials currently spend a substantial amount on air travel between the two cities.
Keyamo also noted that the decision to relocate the headquarters is within his ministerial authority and emphasized that it only affects one of the seven aviation agencies in the country.
He further explained that the move is driven by operational efficiency and the need to better support the agency’s key decision-makers.
In addition, Keyamo pointed out that the majority of FAAN’s head office staff are based in Lagos, while only the directors are located in Abuja without their support staff.
He also highlighted the significant financial cost associated with frequent air travel between the two cities, which amounts to nearly half a billion naira annually.
Overall, Keyamo stressed that the decision to relocate the FAAN headquarters is a necessary step in line with the agency’s operational needs and cost-saving measures.
“You see them flying every day to-and-fro Abuja to get one file signed. They fly everyday back and forth. In one year, they spent close to half a billion naira on flight tickets. N450m on flight tickets alone,” he said.
