The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has confirmed that the federal government has decided to relocate its headquarters from Abuja to Lagos.
According to an internal memo signed by FAAN’s Managing Director, Olubunmi Kuku, Nigeria’s Aviation Minister, Festus Keyamo, directed that the agency’s headquarters be relocated from Abuja to Lagos.
Part of the statement reads, “The Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development has directed that the Headquarters of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) should be relocated from Abuja to Lagos,” the memo read.
“Consequent upon the above, you are requested to provide the implication of the relocation to the management’’, FAAN said.
Subsequently, amidst widespread speculation, a statement issued on Thursday by FAAN’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Obiageli Orah, confirmed the development.
According to the statement, FAAN noted that relocation of its headquarters from Lagos to Abuja in the first instance was “ill-advised” when there was no single FAAN building in Abuja to accommodate its staff members at once.
“Those affected by the decision to move the headquarters to Abuja have since returned to Lagos as there is no office space for them in Abuja,” the official said.
The agency explained that the decision will help to curb the waste of public resources and also prevent the rot of FAAN’s abandoned Lagos building among others.
“The Authority wishes to assure members of the public that it will continue to act in the best interest of the public and the country,” FAAN said.