The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has clarified the media report of an alleged call for the revocation of the licence of an airstrip owned by Bishop David Oyedepo-led Living Faith Church.
A major newspaper (not THEWILL), on the 30th of October, reported that the House of Representatives, on Wednesday, called on the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace to stop the issuance of airstrip licences to private individuals and organisations while calling for the withdrawal of already approved ones granted to Living Faith Church and private individuals and organisations, to safeguard national security.
But putting the records straight, Keyamo, on his verified X handle said it is not correct.
According to the Minister, the House of Representatives as a body did not call on the Minister to revoke the licence of any private airstrip.
He explained that someone moved a motion in that regard and it was unanimously referred to the Aviation Committee to look into it.
He added that whilst the intention of the Honourable 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. But after they built 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.
“An MoU is usually signed with NAMA in this regard before the airstrip is approved for operations. It is NAMA that provides the Air Traffic Controllers and Engineers in all airports and airstrips in Nigeria. And the private airstrip owners pay the Federal Government handsomely for these services. No object flies into Nigeria without prior clearance by NAMA and without filing a clear flight plan, e.g., where it is taking off from and where it intends to land. I have recently directed that all aircraft coming into the country must first land at our international airports where they would be properly processed and checked before they make their local flights into whatever airport or airstrip they intend to go.
“So, 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. The Federal Government does not permit that. You will not be cleared for take-off or landing without prior request and authorisation. I thank the member for his patriotism, but I wish he contacted us first to explain to him before rushing to move such a motion. I attach herewith for public consumption the NAMA Act that gives exclusive control of the Nigerian airspace to the Federal Government through NAMA”, Keyamo clarified.