Festus Keyamo, the minister of aviation and aerospace development, has directed the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to charge Peter Obi N25,000 for wrongful parking at the Abuja airport.
In a statement on Friday, Keyamo said the vehicle that brought Obi into the airport flouted the rule, as it was parked unattended in a prohibited zone for about 30 minutes.
Keyamo’s comment followed Obi’s claim in a recent interview with Chude Jideonwo, where he said his car was clamped over allegations of wrongful parking, even though several other vehicles were parked in the same location.
Obi added that some people he knows at the airport now avoid greeting him for fear of becoming targets of the government.
However, the minister countered his claim, saying Obi’s driver parked the car at the drop-off zone.
Keyamo added that the airport rule requires a driver to remain behind the wheel of the vehicle for it to be tolerated for some time within the drop-off zone, however, Obi and other passengers exited the vehicle.
He said their action constitutes a security risk at an airport by global best practices.
“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’.”
‘SECURITY DIDN’T KNOW WHO OWNED THE CAR CAUSE NO ONE WAS INSIDE’
The minister said airport security staff clamped the tyres of the car after all the occupants in the vehicle alighted and went to the terminal building.
According to Keyamo, the car was eventually released without Obi paying a fine after the former Anambra governor spoke to the manager on duty over the clamped tyres.
“On Saturday, July 4th, 2026, Mr. Obi arrived at the domestic wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja at exactly 20:28 pm, driven by a Policeman. He alighted with two other occupants and went into the terminal building,” Keyamo said.
“The Police driver then parked the vehicle, almost blocking the entrance and came out himself and went into the terminal building too. The airport rule is that, apart from the fact that it is a drop-off zone, a driver must remain behind the wheels of the vehicle for it to be tolerated for some time within that zone. Still the vehicle tyres were not clamped.
“The Policeman came back to the vehicle at about 20:32pm and collected something from the vehicle and went back into the building again, leaving the vehicle unattended to.
“At this point, the dutiful airport security staff came over and clamped the tyres of the car. In doing this, contrary to the claims by Peter Obi, nobody was inside the car and so nobody knew whether it was his car (not that it should matter, anyway).
“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.
“It is important to note that the time the vehicle was parked unattended to in that prohibited zone was about 30 minutes, which constitutes a security risk at an airport by global best practices.”
KEYAMO SAYS OBI MUST FACE CONSEQUENCES OF HIS ACTIONS
Addressing Obi’s claim that other vehicles were also parked at the location, Keyamo said the excuse was unbecoming for an individual aspiring to be Nigeria’s president.
The minister added that the former governor has no excuse, and his claim was an attempt to score cheap political points.
“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 excuse which Mr. Peter Obi gave that there were other offenders too on that day (which is completely false) cannot be an excuse for an individual aspiring to be President of Nigeria. He must live above board.
“This is a matter that was not even mentioned at all by the airport authorities and had been put to rest. But ever determined to milk any situation to score cheap political points, Mr. Peter Obi decided to go on air to render a false narrative.”
Keyamo said there is footage to support his claim against the former governor, as such, Obi must face the consequences of his actions.
“Therefore, he must also face the consequences of his actions. (I have attached the CCTV footages to this statement for the public to clearly see what transpired.),” the minister said.
“In the circumstances, consistent with the principle of equality before the law, as Minister of Aviation, I make the following demands on Mr. Peter Obi:
“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 said if the demands are not met within one week, he will give the necessary directives to FAAN to take the next steps against Obi.
