Festus Keyamo, Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation, has revealed that officials of the Federal Aviation Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) spent nearly N1 billion on travel between Lagos and Abuja in 2023.
In a series of statements, Keyamo highlighted the high cost of shuttling between the two cities, emphasizing it as a key reason for relocating FAAN’s headquarters back to Lagos.
“FAAN officials spent N450 million on flight tickets last year, flying every day to and fro Abuja to get documents signed,” Keyamo said on Channels Television. He further revealed that over 100 of the agency’s 132 head office workers were already based in Lagos, raising questions about the need for a headquarters in Abuja.
Adding to the concerns, Keyamo revealed an additional N493 million spent on Duty Tour Allowances (DTA) for the same officials making the frequent trips. “This means, in total, because of insistence on naming Abuja as the headquarters, FAAN spent close to N1 billion in one year!” he said.
Speaking further, the Minister emphasised that the relocation to Lagos has already been implemented and officials are now operating there. This move is expected to significantly reduce travel costs and improve efficiency within the agency.
This news has sparked discussions about cost-cutting measures within Nigerian government agencies and the effectiveness of their locations. While some argue that Abuja serves as a central hub, others stressed the practical and financial benefits of locating headquarters closer to where the majority of staff and operations are based.
The Minister’s revelation sparked reactions online, with many Nigerians highlighting the potential for further savings through digitalization.
“Just by redesignating Lagos as HQ, FAAN will save N1b in one year. That, I consider as a low hanging fruit. Digitalising their operations should commence immediately,” tweeted Oladipo Ososami, a social media commentator.
