The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has clarified that the House of Representatives did not instruct him to revoke the airstrip license for Oyedepo’s Living Faith Church or those of other private entities. Keyamo made this statement on his official X handle, addressing recent reports that suggested a government initiative to suspend and revoke airstrip licenses for national security reasons.
According to Keyamo, the House did consider a motion related to the airstrip licenses, which was subsequently referred to the Aviation Committee for further examination. He emphasized that the intentions behind the motion were patriotic but stemmed from a lack of understanding of how the aviation sector operates.
He explained that the owners of private airstrips are responsible for constructing the runway and terminal buildings. However, once they establish the control tower, it is handed over to the Federal Government through the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), which oversees all airspace management in Nigeria. Before operations can commence, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is typically signed with NAMA.
Keyamo further elaborated that NAMA is responsible for providing Air Traffic Controllers and Engineers at all airports and airstrips in Nigeria. He stated that private airstrip owners compensate the Federal Government for these essential services. “No object flies into Nigeria without the prior clearance by NAMA and without filing a clear flight plan that details the departure and destination points,” he affirmed.
Keyamo’s comments aim to reassure the public and stakeholders about the rigorous processes involved in the management of private airstrips, dispelling misconceptions surrounding recent legislative discussions.
