Nigeria Keyamo Addresses Airstrip License Controversy Surrounding Living Faith Church

Festus Keyamo, Nigeria's Minister of Aviation, clarified that the House of Representatives did not request the revocation of Living Faith Church’s airstrip license. He explained that any motion regarding private airstrips was referred to the Aviation Committee for review, emphasizing the regulatory framework governing air traffic in Nigeria.

In a statement released on Friday, Festus Keyamo, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, addressed recent reports alleging that the House of Representatives requested the revocation of the airstrip license for Living Faith Church, founded by Bishop David Oyedepo. Keyamo clarified that the House did not make such a request, and the claims were based on misunderstandings regarding the legislative process.

Keyamo took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to set the record straight. “I think this is not correct,” he stated, emphasizing that while a motion related to private airstrips was raised in the House, it had not resulted in any official request to revoke licenses. He explained that the matter had been referred to the Aviation Committee for further investigation.

According to Keyamo, the motion was well-intentioned but stemmed from a lack of understanding of how private airstrips operate within Nigeria’s aviation framework. He elaborated on the regulatory processes involved, noting that the Ministry works closely with the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), which oversees all air traffic in the country.

Keyamo detailed that airstrip owners are responsible for constructing the necessary facilities, including runways and terminal buildings. However, the control of air traffic is ultimately handed over to NAMA, which ensures that all flights comply with national regulations. He reassured the public that all aircraft must land at international airports for proper processing before making any local flights to airstrips, further safeguarding national security.

“I thank the member for his patriotism,” Keyamo added, acknowledging the intentions behind the motion while expressing hope that lawmakers would seek clarification from his office before proposing such measures in the future. He concluded by referencing the NAMA Act, which mandates federal oversight of Nigerian airspace, to dispel any lingering concerns about the governance of private airstrips