Obi Must Apologise, Pay ₦25,000 or Face FAAN Action — Keyamo Issues Ultimatum

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has issued a seven-day ultimatum to Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate Peter Obi, demanding a public apology and payment of a ₦25,000 fine over a parking violation at Abuja’s Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport. Keyamo’s demand follows an internal investigation he ordered after Obi publicly claimed his vehicle was unjustly clamped as part of a political persecution campaign by the Federal Government. The minister released CCTV footage which he says contradicts Obi’s account, insisting the former Anambra governor violated airport regulations and then used his influence to evade the prescribed fine. In a statement posted on his X page, Keyamo declared that what had emerged was a clear case of an opposition candidate trying to whip up unnecessary sentiments for a wrong he and his driver committed.

According to the minister’s detailed narrative, the incident occurred on July 4, 2026, and the CCTV footage tells a very specific story. Obi arrived at the domestic terminal at approximately 8:28 p.m., driven by a police officer, and entered the building with two other occupants. The police driver then parked the vehicle in a designated drop-off zone—almost blocking the entrance—and also left the vehicle unattended. The driver briefly returned at about 8:32 p.m. to retrieve an item but abandoned the vehicle again. Airport security personnel then clamped the tyres, with Keyamo insisting nobody knew the vehicle belonged to Obi at the time. When the driver discovered the clamp, he contacted Obi, who spoke with an airport manager and requested the vehicle’s release—which was granted without payment of the ₦25,000 fine. Keyamo emphasised that the vehicle remained unattended for about 30 minutes in a restricted zone, describing this as a security risk under global airport standards.

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However, the Peter Obi Media Office and the Obidient Movement have strongly rejected Keyamo’s narrative, accusing the minister of releasing poorly edited propaganda and manipulating CCTV footage to criminalise the opposition leader. They have raised several counter-claims that directly challenge the minister’s version of events. On the timing dispute, the Obidient Movement argues that timestamps on Keyamo’s own footage show Obi’s vehicle arriving at 20:28 and being clamped at approximately 20:34—six minutes, not thirty. The group accused Keyamo of zooming into the seconds display to confuse viewers into believing they were looking at the minute counter. On the identity of the driver, Obi’s spokesman, Idris Zekeri Jnr, stated that Peter Obi does not have any police or civil defence personnel attached to him in Abuja, challenging Keyamo’s reference to a “police driver”. Obi’s camp also claims the incident Keyamo publicised is entirely different from the one Obi narrated during his interview, suggesting a pattern of targeting the opposition figure. Furthermore, both the Obidient Movement and Obi’s media office insist other vehicles were parked in the same area without being clamped, pointing to selective enforcement targeting Obi. They also questioned why Keyamo showed no similar enthusiasm in investigating high-profile incidents involving Adams Oshiomhole and KWAM 1—known associates of the President.

The Presidency has weighed in on the matter, with presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga backing Keyamo’s position. Onanuga stated that the evidence completely debunked Obi’s falsehood that he was unduly targeted and persecuted, insisting that he and his police driver broke a simple parking rule at the Airport.

Keyamo has made two formal demands, warning that failure to comply within seven days would prompt him to direct the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to take further action. First, Obi must tender an unreserved, public apology to the airport workers he accused of persecution. Second, Obi must voluntarily return to the airport and pay the ₦25,000 fine for wrongful parking, which he allegedly evaded through influence peddling. The minister declared that Obi cannot be bigger than the law.

Meanwhile, legal analyst Ekemini Udim, a Senior Partner at Justice Chambers, has questioned the minister’s authority to impose a fine, arguing that Keyamo is not a court of law. Udim cited a Court of Appeal decision which held that the Federal Road Safety Commission cannot impose fines without taking offenders before a magistrate’s court, arguing the same principle should apply to FAAN. Furthermore, he noted that under the principle of criminal liability, it is the person who commits the offence that should be made to pay for the offence—suggesting that if Obi was not the driver, he cannot be held personally liable.

Obi Must Apologise, Pay ₦25,000 or Face FAAN Action — Keyamo Issues Ultimatum

Keyamo releases CCTV footage, challenges Peter Obi’s persecution claims

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has asked the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) for the 2027 election, Peter Obi, to publicly apologise to airport officials and pay a ₦25,000 parking fine over an incident at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, warning that the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) could take further action if he fails to comply within one week.

The minister issued the warning after ordering an internal investigation into Obi’s allegation that officials at the Abuja airport harassed him as part of what he described as political persecution by the Federal Government.

In a statement released on Friday night, Keyamo said the investigation relied on footage from the airport’s 24-hour Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) surveillance system, which he said captured the entire sequence of events that led to the clamping of the vehicle conveying Obi.

According to the minister, the CCTV footage showed that on Saturday, July 4, 2026, Obi arrived at the domestic wing of the airport at about 8:28 p.m. in a vehicle driven by a police officer.

He said Obi and two other occupants immediately entered the terminal building, while the police officer parked the vehicle in the designated drop-off area before leaving it unattended and entering the terminal, contrary to airport regulations.

Keyamo explained that the drop-off zone is designed only for brief passenger drop-offs and that drivers are required to remain inside their vehicles at all times while using the area.

He said leaving any vehicle unattended within the zone constitutes a security risk and violates internationally accepted airport safety procedures.

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According to the minister, the police driver briefly returned to the vehicle at about 8:32 p.m. to retrieve an item before leaving it unattended again.

He said airport security personnel subsequently clamped the tyres of the vehicle after observing that it had remained unattended in the restricted area.

Keyamo stressed that airport officials who carried out the enforcement action did not know the vehicle belonged to Obi because there was no occupant inside when it was clamped.

The minister alleged that after the police officer discovered the vehicle had been immobilised, he contacted Obi, who then spoke directly with the airport manager and requested that the vehicle be released.

According to Keyamo, the vehicle was eventually released without payment of the prescribed ₦25,000 fine for violating airport parking regulations.

He argued that the matter had effectively been resolved until Obi later publicly alleged that he had been deliberately targeted by airport authorities because of his political status.

“As Minister of Aviation, I felt a moral duty to investigate and authenticate the claim made by Mr Peter Obi that the tyres of his car were unjustly clamped, suggesting a persecution agenda against him by the Federal Government,” Keyamo said.

“Luckily enough, the entire Abuja airport is covered by CCTV cameras operating 24 hours a day.”

The minister maintained that the footage contradicted Obi’s account and showed that airport officials merely enforced established security regulations applicable to every airport user, regardless of status or political affiliation.

He further alleged that Obi used his influence to secure the release of the vehicle without paying the required fine and later attempted to portray the enforcement action as political persecution.

Keyamo therefore demanded that Obi publicly apologise to airport workers whom he said were unfairly accused of victimising the former Anambra State governor.

He also asked Obi to voluntarily return to the airport and pay the ₦25,000 parking penalty.

According to the minister, failure to comply within one week would leave him with no option but to direct the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to take appropriate administrative action.

“If these demands are not met within one week, I will be giving the necessary directives to the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to take the next steps against him,” he stated.

The controversy began after Obi alleged that airport officials clamped the vehicle conveying him while other improperly parked vehicles were left untouched.

The former Anambra State governor argued that the action reflected selective enforcement and formed part of a broader pattern of intimidation directed at opposition figures.

Obi also expressed concern over what he described as the shrinking democratic space in Nigeria and urged public institutions to remain impartial in carrying out their responsibilities.

As of the time of filing this report, Obi had not publicly responded to Keyamo’s latest statement, the CCTV footage released by the Ministry of Aviation or the minister’s demands for an apology and payment of the parking fine.

The incident has generated widespread debate across political and public circles, with supporters of both men offering differing interpretations of the CCTV footage and the circumstances surrounding the enforcement action.

While some observers argue that airport regulations should be applied equally to every Nigerian without regard to political status, others have called for an independent review to determine whether the enforcement process was carried out fairly and consistently.

The development has further intensified political exchanges ahead of the 2027 general election, with analysts saying the dispute reflects the increasingly charged political atmosphere as parties prepare for the next presidential contest.

Attention is now focused on whether Obi will respond to the minister’s ultimatum or whether FAAN will proceed with any formal administrative measures over the incident.

Keyamo releases CCTV footage, challenges Peter Obi’s persecution claims

20-Year MMA2 Concession Battle Ends, Boosting Nigeria Aviation PPP Outlook

The Managing Director and Chief Executive of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, has described the resolution of the long-running concession dispute over the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal Two (MMA2), Lagos, as a major breakthrough that will strengthen investor confidence and reshape public-private partnership (PPP) frameworks in Nigeria’s aviation sector.

Kuku made the remarks at the African Air Transport Convention & Expo 2026 in Lomé, Togo, where she emphasized that successful aviation infrastructure delivery depends not only on funding, but also on strong institutions, regulatory certainty, and consistent policy implementation.

Her comments come after confirmation that the federal government has finally resolved a nearly 20-year concession dispute with Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), operators of MMA2.

The MMA2 concession dispute, which began in the early 2000s, has been one of the most controversial cases in Nigeria’s aviation sector, shaping discussions around airport privatization and PPP agreements. According to reports, the resolution includes a settlement in which BASL will forgo a N130 billion judgement debt, while retaining responsibility for developing a conference centre opposite the MMA2 terminal. The deal effectively ends years of legal battles, regulatory disagreements, and operational uncertainty surrounding one of Nigeria’s most important airport infrastructure projects.

Kuku described MMA2 as one of the most widely discussed concession projects in Nigeria’s aviation history, noting that it generated prolonged uncertainty for investors and policymakers. She said the conclusion of the dispute sends a strong signal to investors that Nigeria is committed to stabilising its aviation PPP framework and improving contract enforcement.

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“It’s now been resolved. What that means is that it provides better investor confidence for those that are looking to drive PPP projects,” she said. She added that future concession agreements will be structured to ensure fairness between government and private investors, reducing the risk of prolonged disputes.

Industry analysts say the resolution could unlock new private sector participation in airport development projects, including terminal upgrades, cargo expansion, and service modernization. They also note that resolving long-standing disputes like MMA2 helps reduce perceived regulatory risk, which has historically discouraged foreign and domestic investment in Nigeria’s aviation infrastructure.

Beyond the MMA2 settlement, Kuku highlighted broader challenges facing aviation development across Africa, including policy inconsistency, funding gaps, and project delivery risks. She called for closer collaboration between governments, development finance institutions, and private investors to bridge Africa’s aviation infrastructure deficit.

Rather than creating new financing institutions, she recommended strengthening existing banks by establishing specialised aviation desks with technical expertise to support structured investments. Kuku also stressed the importance of early-stage engagement between project developers and financiers to ensure bankable infrastructure projects.

Kuku further revealed that FAAN has developed a multi-phase infrastructure roadmap covering short-, medium-, and long-term priorities across Nigeria’s airport network. In the short term, the focus is on stabilising airport operations and improving passenger experience.

Medium- and long-term plans include terminal upgrades, airside development, cargo infrastructure expansion, and modernization of safety systems. She added that FAAN is also evaluating secondary airports and exploring incentive mechanisms, including guarantee schemes, to encourage airline operations on underserved routes.

With the MMA2 concession dispute now resolved after 20 years, stakeholders say attention will shift to implementation, compliance monitoring, and ensuring that the settlement translates into improved efficiency and investor trust in Nigeria’s aviation sector.

20-Year MMA2 Concession Battle Ends, Boosting Nigeria Aviation PPP Outlook