The House of Representatives has directed the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, to ensure that members of the Armed Forces are exempted from tollgate fees and parking charges at airports nationwide.
This directive follows the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance presented by Rep. Abdussamad Dasuki during a plenary session on Tuesday.
Rep. Dasuki argued that members of the Armed Forces are currently required to pay for airport access, despite their critical role in safeguarding both citizens and foreigners, whether on duty or traveling as passengers. He pointed out that on May 14, the Minister of Aviation announced that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) had decided to revoke all exemptions for VIPs regarding airport access payments, due to significant revenue shortfalls for the federal government. The minister indicated that this resolution would be enforced through circulars distributed to the relevant authorities.
Dasuki highlighted the need to honor and show gratitude to the armed forces for their sacrifices, including loss of life and injuries, to maintain the nation’s security. He stated, “It is important to show gratitude by honoring our brothers and sisters who are voluntarily serving under our flag, putting in their active years to keep our nation safe, with some losing their lives and some becoming disabled from the battlefield amidst other effects.”
The House adopted the motion and instructed its Committee on Aviation to ensure compliance with the directive.
