President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Senator Kashim Shettima will now be required to pay airport access tolls and parking fees at all national airports.
This change follows the Federal Executive Council’s approval of a memorandum from the Ministry of Aviation, which ended toll exemptions for Very Important Persons (VIPs) and government officials. The decision was announced by Minister Festus Keyamo after Tuesday’s FEC meeting.
Keyamo explained that the government has been losing over 82% of potential revenue from e-tags used for airport access. Initially, the memorandum recommended exempting the President and Vice President, but Tinubu overruled this, insisting that he and the Vice President, along with their aides, must also pay tolls.
“Our memo said ‘with the exception of the President and the Vice President’. But the President overruled me and said he and the Vice President will pay. He said everybody will pay,” Keyamo revealed.
The Minister expressed frustration that VIPs, who can afford to pay, were evading tolls, thereby shifting the financial burden to less affluent citizens.
“They don’t pay the access fees. They don’t pay for parking, they don’t pay for essential services at airports, and they are VIPs. And I told myself and my team, ‘Not under my watch. It will not happen,’” he stated.
Keyamo also promised to end harassment of airport staff by uniformed officers at gates, ensuring that more cameras would be installed to monitor and capture violations.
He projected that the Federal Government could generate N10 billion annually from tolls, and mentioned the consideration of a rebate for military veterans.
Details shortly…
