Keyamo: Group Reacts to Relocation of FAAN HQ to Lagos, Sends Crucial Message to Tinubu’s Minister
- Nigerians have been urged to support relocating the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) headquarters from Abuja to Lagos
- This appeal was made in Abuja on Friday, January 19, by the Good Governance Watch Initiative (GGWI)
- The group stated that the move by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, was in the nation's best interest
Legit.ng journalist Segun Adeyemi has over 9 years of experience covering political events, civil societies, courts, and metro
FCT, Abuja - The Good Governance Watch Initiative (GGWI) has approved moving the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) headquarters to Lagos.
Praising the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, the organisation stated that the relocation is timely and beneficial for the nation.
Source: Original
During a press conference in Abuja on Friday, Dr. Ikechukwu Cecilia, the group's convener, further acknowledged Keyamo's commendable efforts in revitalising the aviation sector through insightful reforms and policies.
Cecilia said:
"The case of FAAN brings to the fore years of irrational decisions by the former administration without considering the economic implications of their actions. Relocating FAAN from Lagos, Nigeria's operational hub of air traffic at the time, was ill-conceived.
"It didn't make sense for the operational headquarters to be outside, where most of its activities are domiciled. We know that Lagos is the hub of aviation activities in the country.
"FAAN is a service organisation statutorily charged with managing all Commercial Airports in Nigeria and providing service to passenger and cargo airlines."
Aviation expert reacts
Giving an expert perspective on the new development, former military commandant at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Group Captain John Ojikutu told Legit.ng that it was another move to embezzle government funds.
He stated that there was no need to relocate FAAN HQ to Lagos as he slammed the government for orchestrating another means to destabilise the aviation sector for their gains.
Ojikutu said:
"Everything the political office holders are doing in aviation is nothing for the development of the industry. It's just for their selfish interest."
He stated that reforming the aviation sector requires other measures from the government, like handing off from the management and operations of airports in Nigeria.
Ojikutu also noted that it was high time Nigeria forgot about its plan for a national airline as he urged the Minister to start asking questions about the revenue generated from international airlines that pay their duties charges in dollars.
Nigerians urged to support Keyamo
Encouraging Nigerians to support the minister, she expressed that the Federal Government genuinely aims to tackle the nation's numerous economic difficulties.
She said:
"This is also on the heels of the fact that Lagos Murtala Muhammed International Airport remained the busiest airport in Nigeria for international and domestic travellers, which has been the hub of commercial activities in the country.
"It, therefore, does not make sense that the agency responsible for managing our airports operates outside Lagos for any reason.
"The decision to relocate FAAN from Lagos was a misnomer that encouraged waste of the country's scarce resources, as relocating to Abuja affected the agency's operational efficiency."
Shehu Sani reacts as FG relocates FAAN Headquarters to Lagos
Meanwhile, Senator Shehu Sani has reacted to relocating the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) headquarters from Abuja to Lagos.
The former lawmaker said he was not surprised by the move, giving a crucial reason for his assertion.
Senator Sani said the last administration of Muhammadu Buhari was to be blamed for not completing the FAAN building in Abuja.
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Source: Legit.ng
