Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria has ordered the immediate ejection of a private parking management firm from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, following a wave of complaints that the company was illegally imposing N25,000 fines on motorists in flagrant violation of its operational mandate. The decision, announced on Friday, August 21, 2026, by FAAN's Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, came after the matter was escalated to the Managing Director of FAAN, Olubunmi Kuku, who swiftly directed the company's removal. Achimugu disclosed the development in a post on his official X account, confirming that Kuku had ordered the "IMMEDIATE ejection, from the Abuja airport, of the company responsible for this illegal action". The company has since been identified as Bash Fast Towing Company, which had been operating a concession to manage parking services at the airport.
The controversy erupted when a user identified as Ogundipe, Esq., raised concerns over alleged irregularities in the enforcement of parking and pick-up restrictions at the Abuja airport. According to the complaint, personnel of the parking company allegedly clamped vehicles belonging to motorists who stopped briefly in restricted areas and then directed them to a red-painted container where they were told to pay a N25,000 penalty before their vehicles could be released. The complainant further alleged that motorists who asked to pay into an official account displayed at the office were told that confirmation could take several hours or even days, forcing them to instead make payments through PoS operators or accounts linked to fintech platforms such as OPay, Moniepoint and PalmPay. The complaint mentioned names including Sani Nasiru, Bala Matazu and Yahaya Matage as allegedly appearing when some of the accounts provided by enforcement personnel were entered for payment. The complainant also alleged that proof of payment would not necessarily result in the immediate release of vehicles, leaving motorists stranded and frustrated.
FAAN's Managing Director, Olubunmi Kuku, has consistently maintained that necessary action would be taken whenever there was evidence of illegal activities, particularly those that inconvenience airport users. In a statement, Achimugu confirmed that discussions were already underway to identify a suitable replacement company to handle parking responsibilities at the airport. He commended Kuku for what he described as a swift response to the complaint, noting that the matter had been a source of grave concern to airport users for a while. The authority has also advised vehicle owners using the airport to comply with designated parking and traffic instructions to help prevent similar incidents.
The ejection of the parking firm raises serious questions about the vetting process for contractors managing critical public infrastructure and the adequacy of regulatory oversight over concessionaires. Parking services at Nigerian airports are typically managed through concessions, where private companies pay a fee to FAAN to manage the infrastructure and collect parking charges, while FAAN retains regulatory oversight to ensure fees remain fair and transparent. However, the lack of strict monitoring of these contractors has previously led to disputes over pricing and service quality. The imposition of a N25,000 fine, a sum significantly higher than standard parking penalties in most urban centres, points to a failure in the company's compliance with its contractual obligations. Industry analysts have warned that such scandals damage the reputation of Nigeria's aviation sector and discourage the use of official airport facilities.
The development comes amid FAAN's broader efforts to regulate commercial transportation within Nigerian airports. On Thursday, August 20, 2026, FAAN announced it was seeking a new operational framework for Uber, Bolt and other e-hailing services at Nigerian airports, addressing passenger safety, security, accountability, operational visibility and orderly pick-up arrangements. The authority clarified that its Airport Car Hire Rank Management System is not an e-hailing application and was not developed to compete with Uber, Bolt or other platforms. FAAN has also previously indicated a commitment to digitising payment systems at airports to reduce human interaction and eliminate the possibility of unauthorised charges. The authority is now reviewing other existing concession agreements to ensure that all service providers are adhering to the approved price lists. As FAAN determines whether to appoint a new private operator or bring parking management back under direct internal control, the message is clear: unauthorised practices will not be tolerated, and the rights of airport users will be protected.
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