By Halimah Olamide
Minister of Aviation Festus Keyamo on Thursday said the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria incurred expenses almost to the tune of N1bn last year as a result of the location of the agency in Abuja.
Keyamo, who made a post on his X handle to correct his earlier figure of about N500m stated on a live broadcast on Channels Television on Wednesday said his further checks have revealed that the amount spent was far more higher.
“When I did my Channels TV interview yesterday, I had not been briefed as to the amount FAAN spent last year alone on DTA (Duty Tour Allowance) for the principal officers who travelled back and forth from Lagos to Abuja almost on a daily basis.
“The amount came up to N493,678,620.37. This is aside from the air tickets which I mentioned that amounted to N451, 058,950.09.
“So, in total, because of insistence on naming Abuja as the headquarters of FAAN (when there are no offices in Abuja to accommodate all the principal officers) FAAN spent close to N1 billion in one year!”
The Federal Government had three weeks ago ordered the relocation of FAAN back to Lagos alongside some departments of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
The move has created some furore in the country with some northern groups kicking against it.
A senator, Ali Ndume, has said the move would have political consequences for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.