FAAN Evicts Firm Over Alleged Illegal Vehicle Clamping At Abuja Airport

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has ordered the immediate removal of a transport company accused of illegally clamping vehicles and collecting N25,000 penalties from motorists at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

The decision followed complaints over alleged irregular enforcement of the airport’s no-parking and no-pick-up regulations, including claims that motorists were directed to make payments through personal bank accounts and point-of-sale (POS) operators.

FAAN’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, said the complaint was escalated to the Managing Director of the agency, Olubunmi Kuku, who subsequently ordered the company’s immediate ejection from the airport.

Achimugu said FAAN would not tolerate activities that violate established regulations or inconvenience airport users.

The complaint, made public by a lawyer identified as Ogundele, alleged that motorists who stopped briefly around the airport premises had their vehicles clamped by enforcement personnel and were subsequently asked to pay a N25,000 penalty.

According to the complainant, motorists were directed to a red-painted container where the alleged fines were demanded. He further claimed that instead of being directed to an official payment channel, some motorists were referred to POS operators and accounts bearing names including Sani Nasiru, Bala Matazu and Yahaya Matage.

Ogundele questioned the practice, particularly as motorists rushing to catch flights or pick up passengers had limited options.

He also alleged that motorists who paid into FAAN’s officially designated account sometimes had to wait for hours or days for confirmation, while payments made through the accounts provided by enforcement personnel were processed immediately.

However, FAAN distanced itself from the alleged practices, stating that the company involved no longer had a valid agreement with the authority.

Kuku confirmed that the firm had previously been warned against such practices.

“Yes, it is because they do not have a current agreement and they have been warned against such practices in the past,” the FAAN managing director said.

The authority’s action underscores its position that individuals or companies operating within airport premises must comply with approved regulations and payment procedures.