Keyamo warned that if Obi failed to comply, he would direct the Federal Airports Authority (FAAN) of Nigeria to take further action.
By Kehinde Okeowo
Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, has demanded a public apology and the payment of a ₦25,000 fine from the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, for allegedly violating parking regulations, issuing him with a seven-day ultimatum.
He made this known on Thursday in a post shared on X titled: “PETER OBI MUST APOLOGISE TO AIRPORT STAFF AND PAY THE FINE FOR WRONG PARKING”.
According to him, an internal investigation, backed by CCTV footage from the Abuja airport, contradicted Obi’s earlier claim that his vehicle was unjustly clamped as part of a political persecution campaign.
Keyamo said, “Luckily enough, the entire Abuja airport is covered by CCTV cameras, real-time, 24/7. But apparently, this fact was unknown to Mr Peter Obi. Otherwise, perhaps he would have been more circumspect before rushing to the media to cry ‘persecution’.”
The minister noted that the incident occurred on Saturday, July 4th, when the former Anambra State governor arrived at the airport’s domestic terminal at about 8:28 pm.
He alleged that after Obi alighted from the vehicle, his police driver parked in a designated drop-off zone, left the vehicle unattended and entered the terminal, contrary to airport regulations.
Keyamo said the driver briefly returned to the vehicle before leaving it unattended again, prompting airport security personnel to clamp its tyres.
He said, “On Saturday, July 4th, 2026, Mr Obi arrived at the domestic wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, at exactly 20:28 pm, driven by a policeman. He alighted with two other occupants and went into the terminal building.
”The police driver then parked the vehicle, almost blocking the entrance, and came out himself and went into the terminal building too. The airport rule is that, apart from the fact that it is a drop-off zone, a driver must remain behind the wheel of the vehicle for it to be tolerated for some time within that zone. Still, the vehicle’s tyres were not clamped.
”The policeman came back to the vehicle at about 20:32 pm, collected something from the vehicle, and went back into the building again, leaving the vehicle unattended.
”At this point, the dutiful airport security staff came over and clamped the tyres of the car.”
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Keyamo maintained that airport officials had no knowledge the vehicle belonged to Obi when they carried out the enforcement action.
The minister further alleged that when the driver discovered the vehicle had been clamped, he contacted Obi, who then spoke with the airport manager and requested the vehicle’s release.
According to him, the vehicle was released without payment of the prescribed ₦25,000 penalty.
He said leaving a vehicle unattended in a restricted airport zone for about 30 minutes posed a significant security risk and violated global aviation safety standards.
Keyamo accused Obi of attempting to gain political sympathy by portraying the enforcement action as persecution. He argued that the matter had already been resolved before Obi made public comments alleging unfair treatment.
The minister demanded that Obi issue an unreserved public apology to airport workers, whom he said were merely carrying out their lawful duties, and voluntarily return to pay the parking fine.
He warned that if Obi failed to comply within one week, he would direct the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria to take further action.
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