
The Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo has taken to his official X (formerly Twitter) handle to react to the call by the House of Representatives to withdrawal Airstrip license issued to private individuals including Bishop David Oyedepo of Winner Chapel International.
Keyamo said, the information (withdrawal of license) was not correct, stating that, the House of Representatives as a body didn’t call on him to revoke the license of any private airstrip.
According to Keyamo, “What happened is that someone moved a motion in that regard and it was unanimously referred to the Aviation Committee to look into it.”
He said further, “Whilst the intention of the Hon. Member who moved it is very patriot, it was based on a complete lack of knowledge of the aviation sector. By the time we explain to them how private airstrip works and the process they undergo by our agencies before the final approval, they will be satisfied.”
He noted that, the responsibility of the owners of private air strips is just to build the runaway , terminal building and the tower, but after completion, it is completely handed over to the Federal Government through Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA).
He added that, it is NAMA that provides the Air Traffic Controllers and Engineers in all Airports and Airstrips in Nigeria. And that the private airstrip owners pay the Federal Government handsomely for these services.
Keyamo explained further that, “No object flies into Nigeria without the prior knowledge and clearance of NAMA,……You can not be taking off or landing without prior request and authorisation..”