President Tinubu Excludes All FAAN Properties From Sale, Citing Critical Need for On-Site Housing for Emergency Staff

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the exclusion of all properties belonging to the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) within and around airports nationwide from being sold or transferred to private individuals. The decisive action, which received the approval of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), was announced today, Thursday, November 13, 2025, by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo (SAN).

The Minister explained that the decision was driven primarily by the need to safeguard aviation safety and operational efficiency. He stressed that the affected properties, which include residential quarters and operational facilities, were originally built to house essential technical staff such as firefighting personnel, air traffic controllers, and security officers.

“The airport is an environment where you can have an emergency at any time, and as a result, you need those people to stay within government quarters inside the airport,” Keyamo stated. He noted that allowing private ownership in these zones compromises national security and rapid emergency response capabilities.

Resolving Long-Standing Ownership Disputes

The new directive effectively overrides any conflicting interpretations or sales initiated under previous asset disposal programmes, particularly those linked to the defunct Presidential Implementation Committee on Government Properties. For years, FAAN has been embroiled in disputes with individuals, including some retired staff members, who claimed ownership of these essential quarters.

Keyamo issued a stern warning to all individuals asserting ownership claims based on previous arrangements. “I am making this public announcement to people who thought they had bought or purported to have bought these properties: we will not give those properties to them,” the Minister affirmed. He clarified that the properties were always intended to be excluded due to their strategic importance.

The new memo approved by the President solidifies the government’s position, ensuring that these vital national assets are retained in public hands and utilized exclusively for maintaining the integrity and safety standards of Nigeria’s airports, in line with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) requirements.