President Bola Tinubu on Thursday approved a halt on the sale or transfer of properties belonging to the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) within and around airport premises.
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Festus Keyamo who disclosed this while briefing State House Correspondents after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting said,
this directive overrides any previous government decisions that might have allowed liquidation or sale of such assets.
Minister Keyamo explained that essential personnel, including firefighters and navigational officers, are required to reside within airport precincts to ensure rapid emergency response, making the retention of these facilities critical.
“We will not concede any of these properties to private individuals. Anyone who believes they have purchased such assets should take note,” the Minister said.
Keyamo noted that the FEC also granted eight approvals for the aviation Ministry, covering airport safety, technology upgrades, concessions, and security enhancements.
He said these include contracts for maintenance and support services for Aeronautical Information Management (AIM) solutions across five international airports, Abuja, Lagos, Kano, Port Harcourt, and Enugu.
Council also approved the deployment of advanced Terrestrial Trunked Radio (TETRA) power systems nationwide, along with 14 VHF remote communication systems for the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) to boost navigational safety.
To meet International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards, FEC endorsed the purchase of 15 airport rescue and firefighting vehicles for the five major international airports.
Minister Keyamo announced that NAMA, currently operating from rented offices in Abuja, will now have a purpose-built headquarters in the capital.
He said that hosting command-and-control infrastructure in private buildings poses security risks.
FEC also approved the business case for the concession of Port Harcourt International Airport.
Minister Keyamo said investor appetite has risen sharply under the current administration.
“Before we assumed office, no investor showed interest. Now, over six bidders are competing to run Port Harcourt,” he said, assuring aviation unions that no worker would lose their job.
The Minister said FEC similarly approved a contactless biometric passenger-verification system linked to the National Identification Number (NIN) across all airports to tackle identity fraud and enhance security.
“Too many people board aircraft using fake identities. This system will confirm passengers are who they claim to be,” Keyamo said.
The Council also ratified contracts under the 2024 budget to install airfield lighting at select airports so they can operate into late-evening hours, helping airlines improve revenue.
“Some airports shut down by 6 p.m. because they lack lighting. This upgrade will allow operations till 10-11 p.m.,” he noted.
Minister Keyamo appealed to aviation unions to support ongoing reforms, stressing that while he remains pro-labour, “unions will not dictate government policy.”
