Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Ruth .J
Nigeria's Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has demanded that former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi publicly apologise to airport personnel and pay a ₦25,000 fine over an alleged wrongful parking incident at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
In a statement posted on his verified X (formerly Twitter) account on Friday, July 10, 2026, Keyamo said he ordered an internal investigation following Obi's recent allegation that the tyres of his vehicle were unjustly clamped at the airport as part of what he described as a persecution agenda against him by the Federal Government.
According to the minister, the investigation reviewed CCTV footage from the airport and concluded that Obi's vehicle was parked unattended in a designated drop-off zone for about 30 minutes, contrary to airport regulations. Keyamo stated that airport security officials clamped the vehicle's tyres after the police officer driving the vehicle repeatedly left it unattended.
He further alleged that when the police officer discovered the vehicle had been clamped, he contacted Obi by telephone and handed the phone to an airport manager. According to Keyamo, Obi identified himself and requested the release of the vehicle, which was subsequently released without payment of the prescribed fine.
The minister maintained that the incident posed a security concern, arguing that leaving a vehicle unattended in a restricted airport zone violates established safety procedures and global aviation security standards.
Describing Obi's earlier public comments as an attempt to generate political sympathy, Keyamo alleged that the former presidential candidate presented a false narrative by claiming he was unfairly targeted. He also rejected Obi's reported assertion that other motorists committed similar offences on the same day.
As a result, Keyamo demanded that Obi issue an unreserved public apology to airport workers whom he said were only carrying out their lawful duties. He also called on Obi to voluntarily return to the airport to pay the ₦25,000 penalty for the parking violation.
The minister warned that if the demands are not met within one week, he would direct the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to take further action in accordance with the law.
As of the time of filing this report, Peter Obi had not publicly responded to Keyamo's latest statement.
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