Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has confirmed that the airstrip licensed for the private use of Bishop David Oyedepo’s Living Faith Church, also known as Winners Chapel, will be managed by the Federal Government through the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA).
Keyamo’s statement addresses mounting concerns from lawmakers, particularly in the House of Representatives, who are pressing for the revocation of airstrip licenses issued to certain individuals and private entities over security concerns. The House has called for an immediate suspension on issuing new private airstrip licenses to private individuals and organizations. This move came following the adoption of an urgent motion led by Abubakar Gumi, a representative from Zamfara State’s Gummi/Bukkuyum Federal Constituency. House member Sulaiman Abubarka noted that an increase in private airstrips could exacerbate national security challenges.
The debate was sparked by the recent approval of an airstrip license for Oyedepo’s church at Canaanland in Ota, Ogun State. In response to these concerns, Keyamo clarified that the airstrip would not function independently from regulatory oversight.
Explaining the process, Keyamo stated, “While the motives behind the lawmakers’ concerns are patriotic, they may stem from a misunderstanding of aviation regulations. Private airstrips go through strict approval processes that ensure alignment with security standards.”
Keyamo highlighted that while the church and other private airstrip owners are responsible for building the runways and terminal facilities, once a control tower is established, ownership is transferred to the Federal Government through NAMA.
“An MOU is signed with NAMA before any airstrip becomes operational, giving NAMA control over the airspace, including providing Air Traffic Controllers and Engineers at all private airstrips in Nigeria,” he explained. He added that no aircraft can enter Nigerian airspace without clearance from NAMA, which requires a detailed flight plan for security purposes.
Further, Keyamo mentioned that private airstrip owners will be required to compensate the Federal Government for services rendered. In a bid to tighten national airspace security, he has recently mandated that all international flights must first land at designated international airports for comprehensive checks before proceeding to any local airstrip or airport.
“It is entirely impossible for any private airstrip to operate unauthorized flights, as strict oversight measures are in place to secure Nigerian airspace,” he emphasized, assuring lawmakers and the public that all aviation activities are closely monitored for security compliance.
