On Wednesday, the House of Representatives urged the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace to cease the issuance of airstrip licenses to private individuals and organizations. This motion also calls for the withdrawal of existing licenses, including those granted to Living Faith Church, in an effort to safeguard national security.
The motion was introduced by Rep. Sulaiman Abubakar Gumi during a plenary session in Abuja. He emphasized the need for urgent action, citing the potential risks associated with allowing private airstrips to operate unchecked.
Gumi highlighted that the Federal Government, through Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Festus Keyamo, confirmed the approval of an airstrip for Living Faith Church, located in Canaanland, Ota, Ogun State. He noted that this approval has raised significant concerns among lawmakers.
During a service on October 6, 2024, Bishop David Oyedepo, the founder of Living Faith Church, announced to his congregation that the government had granted the church an airstrip. This revelation prompted further scrutiny from the House.
“Recall that in September 2014, a prominent religious leader was linked with a private jet used to convey $9.3 million in cash to South Africa for the purchase of arms,” Gumi stated. He underscored the gravity of the situation, drawing parallels to past incidents that have compromised national security.
The representative pointed out that Nigeria is currently grappling with severe security challenges, including the illegal importation of firearms and hard drugs. “Granting airstrip licenses to private individuals will aid illegal importation and heighten issues like insurgency, kidnapping, and banditry,” Gumi warned.
He added that these problems are significantly affecting the country’s socio-economic development, making the need for legislative intervention more pressing. The House subsequently urged the Committees on Aviation and Legislative Compliance to ensure adherence to this resolution.
In response to the House’s actions, Minister Festus Keyamo stated that the House of Representatives did not officially request the revocation of the airstrip license for Living Faith Church or those of other private individuals.
Keyamo clarified this position via his official social media account on Friday, responding to reports that mischaracterized the House’s motion. He explained that while the motion raised valid concerns, it was referred to the Aviation Committee for further investigation.
“The intention of the Honourable Member who moved the motion was very patriotic, but it was based on a complete lack of knowledge of the aviation sector,” Keyamo remarked, suggesting that more clarity on the processes involved is necessary.
He elaborated that the responsibility of private airstrip owners primarily involves constructing runways and terminal buildings. “Once the control tower is built, it is handed over to the Federal Government through the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA),” he said.
According to Keyamo, NAMA is responsible for overseeing the entire airspace in Nigeria, and private airstrip operations require a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the agency before approval. “It is NAMA that provides the Air Traffic Controllers and Engineers in all airports and airstrips in Nigeria,” he explained.
He reassured that no aircraft can enter Nigeria without prior clearance from NAMA and the submission of a clear flight plan, detailing its departure and arrival points. “The owners of private airstrips pay the Federal Government handsomely for these services,” Keyamo added.
