By Chinelo Obogo
A deepening accommodation crisis at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano, has exposed a controversial scheme involving the sale of staff quarters owned by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
The revelation has triggered tensions between the agency’s management and its employees, as it raises concerns over staff welfare and transparency in the disposal of public assets. Very reliable sources told Daily Sun that the unauthorised sale of the houses began in 2011 but was initially unsuccessful. However, by 2022, there were renewed efforts, with staff lobbying the Presidential Implementation Committee (PIC), a body established under the President Olusegun Obasanjo administration to oversee the monetisation of federal properties.
FAAN had previously secured an exemption from the monetisation policy, arguing that the airport’s staff quarters were critical for security and operational efficiency. This prevented the sale of the houses for years until the PIC claimed that this exemption had been revoked and allegedly proceeded to issue expression-of-interest forms to staff occupants without recourse to FAAN management.
Daily Sun learned that the PIC came to Kano and conducted a survey of the estate without the knowledge of FAAN management, thereby blindsiding the Authority. No official communication took place, as the committee and staff of FAAN interacted and kept the management out of the loop.
“In 2022, expression-of-interest forms were issued by the committee to staff occupying the houses. These forms required detailed employment records and included a section where employers had to validate staff information. But interestingly, the forms were never submitted to FAAN for any input. The committee then valued the properties, and members of staff were given the option to pay outright or in installments, after which offer letters were distributed,” the source said.
Reliable sources told Daily Sun that FAAN management became aware of the development only when offer letters reached members of staff. By the time FAAN intercepted the offer letters, many members of staff had already begun payments, while others had resold the properties to third parties. The situation escalated as transferred and retired staff refused to vacate the quarters, leaving newly posted employees stranded. Some retirees, who left service over three years ago, clung to the houses, banking on the nearing completion of the sales process. But the current management of the Authority swiftly intervened, instructing the Human Resources department to collect and forward the letters to FAAN headquarters.
FAAN’s crackdown
Daily Sun learned that when the Managing Director of FAAN, Olubunmi Kuku, who was appointed long after the unauthorised sales had commenced, was made aware of the incident, an order to issue eviction notices was given but was ignored.
On February 11, 2025, a delegation from FAAN headquarters, including the Director of Legal Services and the Director of Aviation Security, visited Kano to assess the situation. The team discovered that third-party buyers had erected illegal structures on the premises. Despite a three-week ultimatum to remove the extensions, no action was taken, forcing FAAN to demolish the unauthorised buildings and order immediate vacation.
“The PIC conducted surveys, issued expression-of-interest forms, and even valued the properties without FAAN’s knowledge. The forms required employer verification, but they were never sent to management for approval. Some transferred staff refused to vacate the properties, while retirees from three to four years ago also stayed put, claiming they were already advanced in acquiring the houses. Meetings among the interested parties were held secretly, excluding local HR and airport management. Some occupants began paying in installments, while others sold properties to third parties. Transferred staff locked up their quarters and left, denying their replacements access.
“But the good thing is that the current Managing Director is very proactive and thorough. FAAN immediately issued eviction notices when they got wind of what was happening because, usually, when staff retire or are transferred, following payment of benefits or allowances, they are to vacate the houses in at least three months. But despite several eviction notices, many occupants ignored the directives. On February 11, 2025, headquarters dispatched a management team, including the directors of legal and aviation security, to address the situation,” the source said.
PIC’s stance
Daily Sun learned that the PIC insisted it had no obligation to consult the Authority on the sale of properties belonging to the federal government. “They claimed these properties could be sold without FAAN’s input, despite being officially handed over and gazetted under FAAN’s custody. Why bypass the institution that has maintained these houses for over 50 years? Even if sales were necessary, FAAN should have been given the right of first refusal. These aren’t just houses; they’re part of critical airport infrastructure,” the source emphasized.
Daily Sun learned that while some transferred members of staff have complied with eviction orders, others remain defiant, allegedly using colleagues from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) to resist FAAN’s efforts.
FG’s Owner-Occupier Scheme
The Owner-Occupier Scheme (OOS), which allows civil servants to buy government-owned houses they occupy, was officially introduced during the Obasanjo administration as part of the government’s housing reform and privatisation initiatives. It was implemented under the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing with support from the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF). The scheme aimed to reduce government maintenance costs on residential properties while enabling civil servants to own homes.
Usually, only civil servants occupying government residential houses (typically Grade Level 07 and above) can apply, and the property must be officially listed for sale by the government. Applicants must not own a residential property in the same city (verification is done), and interested civil servants submit applications through their Ministries, Departments, and Agencies.
The Presidential Implementation Committee on Federal Government Landed Properties is the key body that supervises the sale of federal government residential and commercial properties to civil servants and the public. They review and approve applications, pricing, eligibility, and payment structures. They also handle conflicts arising from ownership claims, illegal occupiers, or payment disputes. Most importantly, the PIC ensures that properties sold are not reacquired illegally.
Daily Sun’s investigations reveal that in the early years of the policy, FAAN and its residential properties were exempted from the OOS and operated under special considerations due to the nature of their operations. The Authority’s staff, especially aviation security, air traffic controllers and essential personnel, were often required to live near airports for rapid response, leading to the retention of some staff quarters instead of outright sales. By 2010, some non-critical FAAN residential estates were included in federal sales, but aviation unions resisted this move, arguing it would displace workers from airport proximity.
FAAN staff later formed housing cooperatives to facilitate home ownership, and some estates like FAAN Gwagwalada Estate, Abuja, were partially sold to staff under past policies. However, FAAN later revoked allocations, citing resale to non-staff and the need to retain housing for critical aviation personnel. FAAN insists some estates are critical operational assets backed by ICAO Annex 17 on aviation security.
Legal implications
A Lagos-based property lawyer, Martins Agoziem, told Daily Sun that the FAAN Act (as amended) does not explicitly grant the Authority powers to evict civil servants from its residential estates but that it derives its authority over its properties from ‘implied powers.’
He said: “Section 7(1)(d) empowers FAAN to acquire, hold, and dispose of property for its operations, while Section 9(1) allows FAAN to make regulations for managing its assets, including staff housing. While the Act does not explicitly mention eviction, it implies that FAAN has the right to manage its housing for operational efficiency.
“Also, the Public Service Rules (PSR) number 090101 states that government residential quarters are tied to the office and must be vacated upon retirement, transfer, or misconduct. That is why FAAN applies this rule, arguing that occupation is a privilege, not a right. Another point to note is that civil servants in FAAN estates usually sign tenancy agreements that outline terms for occupation and eviction. When these are breached, like subletting, it can lead to eviction. The fundamental question now is whether these sales considered aviation security needs or simply treated the properties as another monetization opportunity.”
Daily Sun’s investigations show that courts have often upheld FAAN’s right to reclaim estates, as seen in FAAN vs. Nwankwo (2018) and FAAN Staff Cooperative vs. FAAN (2021). However, courts have also blocked evictions where due process was not followed.
Agoziem, however, said there are limitations on FAAN’s eviction powers. He noted that the Authority must follow the tenancy law of the state where the estate is located and that occupants must be given a chance to contest eviction, as seen in FAAN vs. Ogunleye (2020).
Way forward
Daily Sun learned that FAAN’s current administration is addressing the issue by creating a comprehensive property database, reviewing all existing allocations, considering legal options against unauthorised sales and strengthening inter-agency collaboration.