The federal government has announced the relocation of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) from Abuja to Lagos state.
This was revealed in a leaked memo signed by the Managing Director of FAAN, Mrs Olubunmi Kuku.
The ministry wrote in a memo that reads; “The Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development has directed that the Headquarters of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) should be relocated from Abuja to Lagos.
This move has generated a stemming reaction from the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), had earlier criticized the alleged plan to relocate major departments in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), from Abuja to Lagos state.
The group recognizes the importance of the departments in question, including Banking Supervision, DBS; Other Financial Institutions Supervision, OFISD; Consumer Protection Department, CPD; Payment System Management Department, PSMD; and Financial Policy Regulations Department, FPRD, as important.
In a statement by its spokesman, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, NEF stated that the forum is concerned about the potential negative impact of relocating these vital departments from the nation’ capital.
Suleiman who said that the relocation of some of these departments would involve increased costs, loss of talent, disruption in operations, reduced coordination, regional economic disparities, and impaired economic development in northern Nigeria added that it would decrease investor confidence in the nation’s economy.
While noting that this would strain the CBN’s budget and divert resources away from other essential functions and initiatives,
The NEF Spokesman, stated that the move would require significant financial investment as the CBN would need to allocate funds for setting up new offices, purchasing or leasing properties, relocating employees, and other infrastructural requirements.
The statement reads in parts; “The CBN has a well-established workforce in Abuja, including professionals with significant knowledge and experience. Moving key departments to Lagos may lead to a loss of skilled employees who are unable or unwilling to relocate. This brain drain could negatively impact the CBN’s performance and efficiency.
“Shifting key departments to Lagos, which is located in the southwestern part of Nigeria, would exacerbate regional economic disparities. The concentration of such important positions and offices in one region may perpetuate the perception of Lagos as the economic center, potentially marginalizing other regions, especially Northern Nigeria. This could lead to increased feelings of neglect or economic imbalance, creating social and political tensions.”
However, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has clarified that its headquarters remain in Abuja as only operational staff has been moved to Lagos to allow for ease in the delivery of service.
The Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Mrs Obiageli Onah stated this in a statement in reaction to a leaked memo on a directive by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Festus Keyamo to relocate the corporate Headquarters of FAAN from the FCT to its original base, Lagos, where it has operated for decades.
