In a statement released on Friday, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, clarified that the House of Representatives did not officially request the revocation of airstrip licenses for Oyedepo’s Living Faith Church or any other private entity.
This comes in response to earlier reports suggesting that the House aimed to halt the issuance and revoke existing airstrip licenses as part of national security measures.
Keyamo took to his X platform, formerly known as Twitter, to address the confusion, emphasizing that while a motion regarding the matter was proposed, it was referred to the Aviation Committee for further review rather than constituting an official request. He noted, “I think this is not correct. The House of Reps. as a body did not call on the Minister to revoke the license of any private airstrip.”
The Minister acknowledged the intent behind the motion, describing it as “patriotic,” but attributed it to a lack of understanding of the aviation sector. Keyamo explained that private airstrip owners are responsible for constructing runways and terminal buildings, while control towers are handed over to the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA).
He stressed that NAMA is responsible for air traffic control and engineering at all airports and airstrips across Nigeria, ensuring that every aircraft receives prior clearance before entering the airspace.
Furthermore, Keyamo announced new directives requiring all incoming aircraft to land at international airports for processing before proceeding to their final destinations. “It is COMPLETELY AND TOTALLY impossible for any private airstrip owner to just jump on an aircraft and fly in and out of the country through that facility,” he asserted, reinforcing the stringent regulations governing air travel in Nigeria.
He concluded by urging better communication with lawmakers to clarify the operations of private airstrips, alongside sharing the NAMA Act, which establishes the federal government’s exclusive control over the nation’s airspace.
