Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, says there’s no way the private plane of privileged Nigerians, including the Founder and Presiding Bishop of Living Faith Bible Church Worldwide, Bishop David Oyedepo, can leave the country directly from their airstrips without first securing clearance from relevant authorities.
Keyamo stated this on Sunday while featuring as a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today.
The Minister spoke barely two months after members of the House of Representatives demanded a revocation of airstrip licences issued to certain individuals and private organisations, citing security reasons.
The House also called for an immediate halt to new airstrip licences for individuals and organisations.
But he insisted there was no way a plane or drone, even if it belongs to the military, can leave or come into the country without first getting a nod from the agency.
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Keyamo stated that Oyedepo’s airstrip also passed through the same due process.
He said, “Oh yes, absolutely. That’s no problem. They were only concerned about the fact that they thought that somebody can take off from a private airstrip and fly out of Nigeria or fly into Nigeria. It is not possible.
“You must land in an international airport first. Then the Customs, immigration and NDLEA will process you before you take off from there to your private airstrip. If you are also flying out, you must land at an international airport. You will go through Customs, immigration and all the normal process before flying out.
“So nobody uses an airstrip for any such purpose without seeking clearance. At every point in time, the authorities must approve.”
Keyamo disclosed that about 40 airstrips are currently operating in the country.
“We have a number of them, more than 40. For the federal airport, we have 23. The state airport has about eight or nine now.
“And then the airstrips are about 40 or thereabouts. I have been there myself,” he stated.
