Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has issued a one-week ultimatum to opposition presidential candidate Peter Obi, demanding a public apology to airport officials and payment of a ₦25,000 fine over an alleged parking violation at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
The directive follows an internal inquiry which the minister said was supported by CCTV footage from the airport. According to Keyamo, the investigation found that Obi’s vehicle was left unattended in a restricted airport zone after he was dropped off at the domestic terminal on July 4, prompting security personnel to clamp the vehicle’s tyres in line with airport regulations.
The minister explained that the driver briefly returned to the vehicle before leaving it unattended again, describing the situation as a security concern under international airport safety standards. He added that the vehicle was later released after the driver contacted Obi, who reportedly spoke with an airport manager. However, Keyamo said the required ₦25,000 parking penalty was not paid before the vehicle was released.
Responding to Obi’s earlier claim that the incident was unjustified and politically motivated, Keyamo maintained that airport officials acted professionally and were simply enforcing established rules. He argued that all citizens, including presidential aspirants, are expected to obey the law and support lawful enforcement.
The minister has now asked Obi to publicly apologise to the airport workers involved and return to pay the outstanding fine within one week. He warned that if the demands are not met, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) could be directed to take further action.
The incident has sparked fresh political debate, with supporters of both sides offering differing views on whether the matter is purely an enforcement issue or part of a wider political disagreement.
