Friday, November 1, 2024 -The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has
stated that the House of Representatives did not request him to revoke the
airstrip license for Bishop David Oyedepo’s Living Faith Church or those of
other private individuals.
Earlier
reports had claimed that the House of Representatives called on the Ministry of
Aviation and Aerospace Development to halt the issuance of airstrip licenses to
private individuals and organizations and to revoke existing licenses,
including those granted to Living Faith Church, in order to ensure national
security.
Writing on
X, Friday morning, November 1, he clarified;
‘’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. But after they built the control tower in particular, it
was 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 the prior clearance by NAMA and
without filing a clear flight plan, eg, where it is taking off from and where
it intends to land.''
‘’And 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.''
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
0 Comments