The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, announced on Friday, November 1, that the House of Representatives did not request him to revoke the airstrip license for Living Faith Church or any other private individuals.
In a statement shared on his official X account, Keyamo addressed reports suggesting that the House had asked for a halt on airstrip licenses for private entities as a national security measure. He clarified that while a motion was discussed in the House, it was sent to the Aviation Committee for further examination.
Keyamo explained, “The intention behind the motion was patriotic, but it stemmed from a misunderstanding of how the aviation sector operates.”
He added that once lawmakers understand the processes involved in obtaining airstrip licenses, they will see the system’s safeguards. He noted, “Private airstrip owners are responsible for building their runways and terminal buildings. However, once they construct a control tower, it is handed over to the Federal Government through the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), which manages the airspace.”
Keyamo emphasized that NAMA provides air traffic controllers and engineers for all airports and airstrips in Nigeria, and that private airstrip owners pay the Federal Government for these services. He concluded by stating, “No aircraft can enter Nigeria without prior clearance from NAMA and a filed flight plan indicating its departure and arrival points.”
