FAAN Spent N1b Annually On Air Tickets From Abuja To Lagos – Keyamo
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has revealed that the principal officers of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) spent close to N1 billion on the purchase of air tickets annually.
Keyamo disclosed this while speaking on the relocation of the corporate headquarters of FAAN from Abuja to Lagos on Wednesday in an interview on Channels TV.
The minister recently ordered the relocation of FAAN headquarters from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja to Lagos to save costs.
According to the Minister of Aviation, the move was meant to stop the waste of public resources and rip-off on the public purse in the course of running the agency.
During the interview, Keyamo said FAAN officials spent close to N500 million on air tickets within a year. He, however, clarified his initial statement and said that FAAN spent way more than he had revealed.
“When I did my Channels TV interview yesterday, I had not been briefed as to the amount FAAN spent last year alone on DTA (Duty Tour Allowance) for the principal officers who travelled back and forth from Lagos to Abuja almost on a daily basis,” Keyamo said on X.
“The amount came up to N493,678,620.37. This is aside from the air tickets which I mentioned that amounted to N451,058,950.09.
“So, in total, because of insistence on naming Abuja as the headquarters of FAAN (when there are no offices in Abuja to accommodate all the principal officers) FAAN spent close to N1 billion in one year!”
Keyamo disclosed that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is investigating the controversial Nigeria Air project of the Federal Government under the tenure of former President Muhammadu Buhari when Hadi Sirika served as minister of aviation.
FAAN spokesperson, Obiageli Onah, in January said Keyamo is committed to taking decisions that are in the best interest of the country, especially as it concerns the prudent use of public funds.
