In a statement released on Friday night, July 10, Keyamo said he launched an investigation into the incident using the airport’s 24-hour CCTV surveillance system, which he said captured the events surrounding Obi’s claims of harassment.
According to the minister, the footage showed that on Saturday, July 4, 2026, at exactly 8:28 p.m., Obi arrived at the domestic wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, in a vehicle driven by a police officer. He said Obi and two other occupants left the vehicle and entered the terminal building, after which the police driver parked in a drop-off zone “almost blocking the entrance” and also left the vehicle unattended.
Keyamo said the action violated airport parking regulations, which require drivers using the drop-off area to remain behind the wheel. He added that unattended vehicles in such areas are subject to enforcement measures because of the security risks they may pose.
The minister said the police driver briefly returned to the vehicle at about 8:32 p.m. to retrieve an item before leaving it unattended again. He added that airport security personnel subsequently clamped the vehicle’s tyres, noting that no one was inside the car at the time and that officials were unaware it belonged to Obi.
He further alleged that the driver later informed Obi about the situation, after which Obi identified himself to the airport manager and requested the release of the vehicle. According to Keyamo, the vehicle was released without payment of the required fine.
The minister accused Obi of presenting a “false narrative” after taking the matter to the media and said the former Anambra governor must face the consequences of his actions.
Keyamo demanded that Obi issue a public apology to airport workers involved in the incident and return to the airport to pay the N25,000 fine for wrongful parking. He warned that failure to comply within one week would lead to further action by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
Full Statement by Festus Keyamo
“Peter Obi Must Apologise to Airport Staff and Pay Fine for Wrong Parking”
As the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, I felt a moral obligation to investigate and verify the claim made by opposition candidate Mr. Peter Obi that the tyres of his vehicle were “unjustly” clamped at the airport, suggesting a “persecution agenda” against him by the Federal Government.
Politics aside, every Nigerian is entitled to fair treatment under the law. I therefore initiated an internal inquiry into the matter.
Fortunately, the entire Abuja airport is covered by CCTV cameras operating in real time, 24 hours a day. This revealed the sequence of events as follows:
- On Saturday, July 4, 2026, Mr. Peter Obi arrived at the domestic wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, at exactly 8:28 p.m., driven by a police officer. He alighted with two other occupants and entered the terminal building.
- The police driver parked the vehicle near the entrance and also left the vehicle to enter the terminal building. Airport regulations require drivers using the drop-off zone to remain behind the wheel for the vehicle to be tolerated within that area. Despite this, the tyres were not immediately clamped.
- At about 8:32 p.m., the police driver returned to the vehicle, collected an item, and went back into the terminal, leaving the vehicle unattended.
- At that point, airport security personnel clamped the vehicle’s tyres. Contrary to Mr. Obi’s claim, nobody was inside the vehicle at the time, and officials had no knowledge that it belonged to him.
- When the police driver returned and discovered the tyres had been clamped, he was directed to an office. There, he contacted Mr. Peter Obi by phone and handed the call to the airport manager. Mr. Obi identified himself and requested the release of the vehicle. The vehicle was subsequently released without payment of the required fine.
- The vehicle had remained unattended in the restricted zone for about 30 minutes, which constitutes a security concern under airport safety practices.
What has emerged is a situation where an opposition candidate attempted to create unnecessary public sentiment over an action that resulted from a violation committed by his driver. The claim that other offenders were treated differently on that day does not justify the breach of airport regulations.
This matter had already been resolved by airport authorities and was not made public. However, Mr. Peter Obi chose to go on air and present what I consider a false account of the incident.
I have made the CCTV footage available alongside this statement so Nigerians can see what transpired.
In line with the principle of equality before the law, I demand the following from Mr. Peter Obi:
- That he issues an unreserved public apology to the airport workers who were carrying out their duties and whom he accused of persecution.
- That he returns to the airport and pays the N25,000 fine for wrongful parking, which was waived when the vehicle was released.
If these demands are not met within one week, I will direct the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to take the necessary next steps.
