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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Energy & Infrastructure

Nigeria minister demands apology from Peter Obi over airport parking row

From The Punch · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Nigeria's Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo has given presidential candidate Peter Obi a seven-day ultimatum to apologize and pay a N25,000 fine.
  • Keyamo alleges Obi's vehicle was clamped for violating airport parking rules, not political persecution, citing CCTV footage.
  • The minister claims Obi's driver left the vehicle unattended in a restricted zone, posing a security risk, and that the vehicle was released without the penalty being paid.

Nigeria's Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has issued a seven-day ultimatum to presidential candidate Peter Obi, demanding a public apology and a N25,000 fine for alleged parking violations at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.

airport officials had no knowledge the vehicle belonged to Obi when they carried out the enforcement action.

— Festus KeyamoThe Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development stated that airport officials were unaware of the vehicle's owner when enforcing parking regulations.

Keyamo stated on Friday that an internal investigation, supported by CCTV footage, refutes Obi's claims of political persecution. The incident occurred on July 4 when Obi arrived at the domestic terminal. According to the minister, Obi's police driver parked in a designated drop-off zone and then left the vehicle unattended, contrary to airport regulations. The driver reportedly returned briefly before leaving the vehicle unattended again, prompting airport security to clamp its tires.

The minister emphasized that airport officials were unaware the vehicle belonged to Obi when they enforced the regulations. He further alleged that after the driver discovered the clamped vehicle, Obi spoke with the airport manager, leading to the vehicle's release without the N25,000 penalty being paid. Keyamo argued that leaving a vehicle unattended in a restricted zone for approximately 30 minutes constitutes a significant security risk and violates global aviation safety standards.

leaving a vehicle unattended in a restricted airport zone for about 30 minutes posed a significant security risk and violated global aviation safety standards.

— Festus KeyamoThe minister explained the security implications of the alleged parking violation.

Keyamo accused Obi of seeking political sympathy by framing the enforcement action as persecution. He noted that the matter was resolved before Obi publicly commented on alleged unfair treatment. The minister demanded an unreserved public apology to the airport workers, who he said were performing their duties, and the voluntary payment of the fine. Keyamo warned that failure to comply within the week would result in further action by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria.

attempting to gain political sympathy by portraying the enforcement action as persecution.

— Festus KeyamoKeyamo accused Obi of misrepresenting the incident for political gain.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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