The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace, Festus Keyamo on Friday revealed that the House of Representatives never ordered the revocation of the license of the private airstrip of the founder of the Living Faith Church, Bishop David Oyedepo, Edum News reports.
Speaking in a statement shared on his official X account on Friday, Keyamo explained that the motion passed in the House of Representatives against private ownership of airstrips was made with patriotic intent although it was done out of ignorance.
Keyamo also explained that private airstrips do not in any way pose a threat to the country and security at large as there are modalities put in place for owners to abide by.
The Minister further noted that though the House of Reps means well for the country, they would have consulted the Ministry for proper understanding of how private airstrip works before moving any motion.
The statement partly reads, “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. I think what happened is that someone moved a motion in that regard and it was unanimously referred to the Aviation Committee to look into it.
“Whilst the intention of the Hon. Member who moved it is very patriotic, it was based on a complete lack of knowledge of the aviation sector. By the time we explain to them how private airstrips work and the processes they undergo by our agencies before the final approval, they will be satisfied.
“The responsibility of the owners of private airstrips is just to build the runway and terminal building. After they build the control tower in particular, it is completely handed over to the Federal Government through NAMA (Nigerian Airspace Management Agency) which is in complete control of the entire airspace in Nigeria.”
Written by Nkiruka Gloria
