Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has accused former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar of hypocrisy over his criticism of the state of the Nigerian economy, citing the liquidation of Nigeria Airways and the prolonged delay in settling the entitlements of its former employees.
Keyamo made the allegation on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, in a post on his official X account, arguing that the administration in which Atiku served as vice-president was responsible for the liquidation of the national carrier in September 2004.
The minister said the decision left thousands of Nigerians without jobs and alleged that successive governments failed to settle outstanding pensions, gratuities and severance benefits owed to the airline’s former workers.
“Your Excellency, Atiku Abubakar, this is hypocrisy at its peak! Let me just talk only about the sector that I head, Aviation,” Keyamo wrote.
He claimed that the unpaid entitlements amounted to billions of naira and accused Atiku of distancing himself from decisions taken by the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, despite serving as vice-president at the time.
Keyamo said President Bola Tinubu’s administration had begun addressing the long-standing obligations, claiming that ₦36 billion had been approved and released to settle the outstanding entitlements of former Nigeria Airways employees.
According to the minister, some beneficiaries had started receiving payment alerts, while the workers’ union had recognised Tinubu for the intervention.
“Twenty-two years later, after many of them have died out of frustration, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is now clearing the mess you left behind,” he said.
Keyamo further accused Atiku of taking credit for the achievements of the Obasanjo administration when politically convenient while distancing himself from its decisions at other times.
The minister’s remarks followed Atiku’s criticism of the Tinubu administration over the rising cost of living and insecurity. In a post on Wednesday, the former vice-president said the government had made life more expensive and promised to work towards making living more affordable if elected president.
Atiku, who is associated with the African Democratic Congress (ADC) ahead of the 2027 general election, also urged registered voters to collect their Permanent Voter Cards.
Nigeria Airways ceased operations in 2003 before its formal liquidation in 2004, following years of financial difficulties. Its former employees have spent more than two decades seeking payment of outstanding benefits from successive administrations.
In September 2026, the Federal Government announced that ₦18 billion had been paid to 2,100 former workers, while the claims of another 600 beneficiaries were being finalised. The government said the payments formed part of efforts to settle verified obligations to former employees.
The controversy over the airline’s outstanding entitlements has continued to attract public attention, particularly as many former workers and their families waited years for payments.
Keyamo’s latest comments have added another dimension to the political exchanges ahead of the 2027 elections, with the minister using the history of Nigeria Airways to challenge Atiku’s criticism of the current administration.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments