‘They are acting as mischief makers’ — Shettima tackles those criticising relocation of FAAN, CBN offices

Vice-President Kashim Shettima says those criticising the federal government’s decision to relocate the headquarters of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), and some offices of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), to Lagos are mischief makers.

On January 18, 2024, FAAN had announced the relocation of its headquarters from Abuja to Lagos after a directive from Festus Keyamo, minister of aviation and aerospace development. The CBN also made a similar announcement.

With dissatisfaction emanating from various quarters, the Northern Senators Forum (NSF) said it would engage the executive as the move continues to elicit controversial debates nationwide.

Ali Ndume, chief whip of the senate, also said the relocation of some offices of the CBN and headquarters of FAAN to Lagos, would have political consequences.

In addition, there have been arguments that the relocation of FAAN and CBN’s departments to Lagos was part of surreptitious plots by the government to make the state the federal capital of Nigeria as well.

Speaking at the 10th Annual Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Lecture, held on Saturday in Maiduguri, Borno state, the vice-president represented by Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, his special adviser on political matters, said the planned relocation is in the best interest of the nation.

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“Recently, there were those opposing the federal government’s decision over planned relocation of some departments and units of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) from Abuja to Lagos, I want to reassure the people of the North that the move is for the interest of the generality of Nigerians,” the Shettima said.

He went on to say that the Tinubu-led administration would not implement any policies that would have a detrimental effect on any region of the country.

The vice-president urged those who were against the move to desist.

“Therefore, those opposing the relocation process of some of the departments should desist, or else they are acting as mischief makers,” Shettima added.