The Federal Government has nullified the sale of staff quarters belonging to the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria nationwide.
The decision affects both retired and serving personnel who purchased their official residences under the owner-occupier arrangement.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, announced the development in Abuja, stating that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, through the Federal Executive Council, approved the exclusion of all FAAN properties located within and around airport environments from any form of disposal to private individuals.
According to the minister, the move follows long-standing concerns over the sale of government-owned properties situated in sensitive airport zones.
He explained that the practice dates back to the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo but noted that there have been persistent representations that staff quarters around airports are meant to serve essential airport personnel such as fire service officers, air traffic controllers, and other critical workers.
Keyamo stressed that airport environments are designated security areas and are not suitable for private residential use, especially for individuals raising families within such zones.
He added that properties around airport environments should not be occupied by private individuals due to security considerations.
The decision comes amid controversy surrounding FAAN staff quarters in Kano, where some retired and serving staff had laid claim to ownership of their official accommodation after making payments under the owner-occupier scheme.
With the latest approval by the Federal Executive Council, such transactions have been rendered invalid, reaffirming the government’s position that airport-related properties must remain under public control for operational and security purposes.
