Aviation Minister Demands Peter Obi Apologise, Pay ₦25,000 Fine Over Abuja Airport Incident

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has called on the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to publicly apologise to airport workers and pay a ₦25,000 parking fine over an incident involving his vehicle at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

The demand followed an internal investigation ordered by the minister after Obi alleged that officials deliberately clamped the tyres of his vehicle as part of what he described as a campaign of political persecution by the Federal Government.

In a statement issued on Friday, the minister said he initiated the inquiry to establish the facts, stressing that every Nigerian, regardless of political affiliation, deserved fair treatment under the law.

According to him, the investigation relied on the airport's 24-hour CCTV surveillance system, which he said captured the events leading to the incident.

The minister said the footage showed that Obi arrived at the airport's domestic terminal at 8:28 p.m on Saturday, July 4, 2026, in a vehicle driven by a police officer. After Obi and two other occupants entered the terminal, the driver allegedly parked the vehicle in the designated drop-off area before leaving it unattended.

He explained that airport regulations require drivers to remain inside vehicles while using the drop-off zone, describing the area as one where prolonged parking is prohibited.

According to the statement, the police driver briefly returned to the vehicle at about 8:32 p.m to retrieve an item before again leaving it unattended. It was during that period, the minister said, that airport security personnel clamped the vehicle's tyres for violating airport parking regulations.

The minister maintained that officials who carried out the enforcement action were unaware the vehicle belonged to Obi, insisting that the officers merely acted in line with established procedures.

"When the police driver discovered the vehicle had been clamped, he was directed to the airport management office. He then contacted Mr. Peter Obi by telephone and handed the phone to the airport manager," the statement said.

According to the minister, Obi identified himself during the call and requested the release of the vehicle, after which the clamp was removed without payment of the prescribed ₦25,000 penalty.

The minister further stated that the vehicle remained unattended in the restricted area for approximately 30 minutes, describing the action as a security risk that contravenes international airport safety practices.

He rejected Obi's earlier claim that other vehicles were similarly parked without sanction, describing the allegation as false and accusing the former Anambra State governor of attempting to generate political sympathy from what he characterised as a routine enforcement action.

The minister said the airport authorities had considered the matter closed until Obi publicly alleged political victimisation.

He argued that public officials and presidential aspirants should be held to the same legal standards as every other Nigerian.

Consequently, Keyamo demanded that Obi issue an unreserved public apology to airport workers whom he said were unfairly portrayed as agents of political persecution while carrying out their lawful duties.

He also asked the NDC presidential candidate to voluntarily return to the airport and pay the ₦25,000 parking fine he said was waived after Obi intervened.

The minister warned that if Obi failed to comply within one week, he would direct the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to take further action in accordance with applicable regulations.

The statement comes days after Obi publicly claimed that the clamping of his vehicle formed part of a broader pattern of intimidation and harassment allegedly targeted at him by the Federal Government. The former Anambra State governor has yet to officially respond to the minister's latest demands.