The Federal Government has withdrawn approval for the sale of staff quarters belonging to the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) nationwide.
The decision affects both serving and retired FAAN employees who had earlier purchased their official residences under the owner-occupier arrangement.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, disclosed this in Abuja, explaining that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, through the Federal Executive Council (FEC), authorised a directive halting the sale of all FAAN-owned properties situated within airport environments to private individuals.
According to Keyamo, the move was taken in response to persistent concerns surrounding the disposal of government assets in highly sensitive airport zones. He explained that the practice of selling airport staff quarters dates back to the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, but has continued to attract objections over the years.
He noted that staff quarters located near airports are meant to accommodate critical aviation personnel, including fire service officers and air traffic controllers, whose proximity to airport facilities is essential for safety and operational efficiency.
The minister stressed that airport premises are classified as high-security areas, making them unsuitable for private residential use, especially for families.
Keyamo further emphasised that allowing private individuals to reside within airport precincts poses significant security risks and contradicts global aviation safety standards.
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The announcement comes amid lingering disputes over FAAN staff quarters in Kano, where some current and retired employees had laid claim to their residences after reportedly making payments under the owner-occupier scheme.
However, with the latest approval by the Federal Executive Council, such transactions have now been nullified, reinforcing the Federal Government’s position that airport-related properties must remain under public ownership strictly for operational and security purposes.
