Abuja Airport Row: FG Threatens Action Against Peter Obi, Orders Apology, N25,000 Parking Fine

July 11, () — The Federal Government has given the presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, one week to publicly apologise to airport workers and pay a N25,000 fine over the clamping of his vehicle at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

The ultimatum was issued on Friday by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, who warned that failure to comply would prompt the Federal Government to direct the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria to commence appropriate enforcement action.

reports that Keyamo’s directive followed an internal investigation ordered by the ministry after Obi alleged that officials at the Abuja airport unjustly clamped the tyres of his vehicle as part of what he described as a politically motivated persecution by the Federal Government.

In a statement issued on Friday, the minister said the inquiry relied on CCTV footage from the airport’s 24-hour surveillance system and found no evidence to support Obi’s claims.

According to Keyamo, the footage showed that Obi arrived at the airport’s domestic terminal on Saturday, July 4, 2026, at about 8:28 p.m. in a vehicle driven by a police officer.

He said after dropping off Obi and two other occupants, the police driver parked in the designated drop-off zone and left the vehicle unattended by entering the terminal building.

The minister explained that airport regulations permit only temporary stops in the drop-off area and require drivers to remain behind the wheel throughout.

He alleged that the driver later returned briefly to retrieve an item before abandoning the vehicle again.

Keyamo said airport security personnel subsequently clamped the vehicle’s tyres after observing that it had remained unattended for about 30 minutes in the restricted area.

He maintained that the CCTV footage showed nobody was inside the vehicle when it was clamped, dismissing Obi’s claim that he was deliberately targeted because of his political status.

According to the minister, the police driver later contacted Obi by telephone and handed the phone to the airport manager.

He alleged that Obi identified himself and requested that the vehicle be released, after which it was allowed to leave without payment of the prescribed N25,000 fine.

Keyamo described the incident as an abuse of influence and argued that leaving a vehicle unattended in a restricted airport zone constituted a significant security risk under international aviation safety standards.

He also rejected Obi’s reported claim that other motorists committed similar violations without sanctions, insisting that the CCTV recordings did not support that assertion.

Accusing the NDC presidential candidate of attempting to score political points, the minister said Obi had unfairly portrayed airport workers as political persecutors despite their carrying out routine enforcement of airport regulations.

He consequently demanded that Obi issue an unreserved public apology to the airport personnel involved and voluntarily return to pay the statutory N25,000 parking fine.

Keyamo warned that should Obi fail to comply within one week, the Federal Government would instruct FAAN to take further action in accordance with applicable airport regulations.

As of the time of filing this report, Obi had not responded publicly to the minister’s latest allegations or the ultimatum.