Cost-Cutting Move: Federal Government To Save N500m Annually As FAAN Relocates To Lagos, Says Festus Keyamo

Cost-Cutting Move: Federal Government To Save N500m Annually As FAAN Relocates To Lagos, Says Festus Keyamo

In a strategic move to enhance operational efficiency and financial prudence, Aviation and Aerospace Development Minister Festus Keyamo has disclosed that the Federal Government is set to relocate the headquarters of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) from Abuja to Lagos…..CONTINUE READING

According to Keyamo, this decision is expected to save the government more than N450 million annually in airfares that officials would have spent traveling from Abuja to attend meetings in Lagos.

Keyamo expressed the government’s commitment to the relocation, stating, “We are going ahead. The directive has been given.” He emphasized that the move is in line with current economic and operational realities. Top officials of FAAN and aviation unions approached the minister, urging the relocation for improved operational efficiency.

Despite opposition from some quarters, including Borno South Senator Ali Ndume and various Northern groups, Keyamo stressed the necessity of the headquarters’ move to Lagos. He clarified that only the headquarters of one of the seven aviation agencies in the country is being relocated, highlighting the mismatch in the provision made for principal officers when the headquarters were moved to Abuja in 2020.

Keyamo emphasized the financial strain caused by officials flying daily between Abuja and Lagos for routine tasks, citing an annual expenditure of close to half a billion naira on flight tickets alone. He defended the decision, stating that the headquarters is where decision-makers meet, not necessarily where the largest number of workers is located.

In response to questions about President Bola Tinubu’s awareness of the decision, Keyamo asserted, “I take the decision; it’s a decision under the purview of a minister.”

Additionally, Keyamo provided insights into the investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) into the failed Nigeria Air project initiated by his predecessor, Hadi Sirika. He assured that the government would establish a proper national carrier, dismissing the designation of any local airline as a national carrier. Keyamo concluded by warning that airlines lacking justifiable reasons for flight cancellations could face public exposure.