The Federal Government has cancelled the sale of staff quarters belonging to the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) across the country.
The decision affects both serving and retired FAAN personnel who acquired their official residences under the owner-occupier arrangement.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, announced the development in Abuja, explaining that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, acting through the Federal Executive Council, approved the exclusion of all FAAN properties located within and around airport environments from being sold to private individuals.
According to the minister, the move was prompted by long-standing concerns over the disposal of government-owned properties situated within sensitive airport zones. He noted that although the practice of selling such properties dates back to the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, there have been sustained objections to the policy over the years.
Keyamo explained that staff quarters around airports are primarily meant to accommodate essential airport personnel, including fire service officers, air traffic controllers, and other critical workers whose proximity to their duty posts is vital to airport operations.
He further stressed that airport environments are classified as security zones and are not appropriate for private residential use, particularly for individuals living there with their families. According to him, properties within and around airports should not be occupied by private individuals due to serious security implications.
The decision follows controversy surrounding FAAN staff quarters in Kano, where some retired and serving personnel claimed ownership of their official accommodation after making payments under the owner-occupier scheme.
With the latest approval by the Federal Executive Council, all such transactions have now been declared invalid, reinforcing the government’s position that airport-related properties must remain under public ownership for operational efficiency and security reasons.
