Why I Took Memo On VIPs To Council, By Keyamo
The Minister Of Aviation & Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo (SAN) says the Memorandum he sent to Federal Executive Council and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu requesting the scrapping of toll exemptions for all Very Important Persons (VIPs) and government officials using the airports, was part of efforts to optimize revenue for government.
Speaking as Special Guest of Honour at the 28th edition of the Conference held at Providence Hotel Ikeja, Lagos, under the theme, Aviation Survivability Amidst A Challenging Macro-Economic Environment,” Keyamo said he does not believe in VIPs, stating that every citizen is equal before God.
He said before the announcement of the memo’s approval on May 14, 2024, he had initially recommended an exception for the President and Vice President but that the President overruled the recommendation, insisting that he and the Vice President and other officials must pay the toll.
Keyamo had during the announcement on the VIPs toll payment declared that the government was losing 82% of revenue it should have earned from e-tags that provide access to the airports across the country.
