Juliet Oladele, Reporting
THE Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has directed the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to fine former Anambra Governor Peter Obi N25,000 for wrongful parking at the Abuja airport, while also demanding a public apology from the 2027 presidential candidate.
The dispute stems from Obi’s recent interview with Chude Jideonwo, in which he claimed his vehicle was “unjustly” clamped at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, suggesting a “persecution agenda” against him by the Federal Government.
However, in a detailed statement released on Friday, Keyamo said an internal inquiry, backed by CCTV footage, revealed a different narrative.
CCTV Footage Contradicts Claims
“As the Minister of Aviation, I felt a moral duty to investigate and authenticate the claim made by opposition candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, a few days ago that the tyres of his car were ‘unjustly’ clamped at the airport, suggesting a ‘persecution agenda’ against him by the Federal Government. Politics aside, every Nigerian is entitled to fair treatment under the law,” Keyamo said.
“I therefore instituted an internal inquiry over the issue. Luckily enough, the entire Abuja airport is covered by CCTV cameras, real-time, 24/7. But apparently, this fact was unknown to Mr. Peter Obi. Otherwise, perhaps he would have been more circumspect before rushing to the media to cry ‘persecution’.”
According to the minister, Obi arrived at the domestic wing of the airport at exactly 20:28 pm on Saturday, July 4th, 2026, driven by a Police officer. He alighted with two other occupants and went into the terminal building.
The Police driver then parked the vehicle, almost blocking the entrance, and also left the vehicle unattended. Airport regulations require a driver to remain behind the wheel for the vehicle to be tolerated within the drop-off zone.
Vehicle Clamped After 30 Minutes
The Policeman returned to the vehicle at 20:32 pm and collected something before going back into the building, leaving the vehicle unattended once more. Airport security staff then clamped the tyres of the car.
“When the Policeman returned again and discovered the tyres were clamped, he was directed to an office and upon getting there, he called Mr. Peter Obi on his phone and gave the phone to the manager. Mr. Peter Obi then introduced himself and spoke with the manager, peddled his ‘influence’ and requested for the release of the vehicle. His vehicle was then released without him paying the necessary fine,” Keyamo stated.
The minister noted that the vehicle was parked unattended in the prohibited zone for approximately 30 minutes, which “constitutes a security risk at an airport by global best practices.”
Minister Demands Apology and Fine Payment
Keyamo rejected Obi’s claim that other vehicles were also parked in the same location, describing the excuse as “unbecoming for an individual aspiring to be Nigeria’s president.”
“What has emerged from this is a clear case of an opposition candidate trying to whip up unnecessary sentiments for a wrong he committed with his driver,” Keyamo said.
The minister made two demands of the former governor:
“That he tenders an unreserved, public apology to those hardworking, ordinary Nigerian workers at the airport, just doing their jobs dutifully and whom he sought to blackmail as his ‘persecutors’.”
“That Mr. Peter Obi voluntarily goes back to the airport and pay the appropriate fine of N25,000 for wrongful parking at the airport for which he used ‘influence peddling’ to bully his way out on that day. He cannot be bigger than the law.”
Keyamo warned that if the demands are not met within one week, he will give the necessary directives to FAAN to take the next steps against Obi.
The minister attached CCTV footage to his statement for public scrutiny, maintaining that the matter was not raised by airport authorities and had been resolved until Obi chose to “milk any situation to score cheap political points.”
