The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Management to immediately stop issuing airstrip licenses to private individuals and organizations, including the approval recently granted to Living Faith Church founder, Bishop David Oyedepo.
This resolution followed a motion presented on Wednesday by Hon. Sulaiman Gumi during the House plenary session. Gumi cited security concerns as the primary reason for the House’s decision.
The motion specifically referenced a recent announcement by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace, Festus Keyamo, who confirmed the approval of an airstrip for Living Faith Church at Canaanland, Ota, in Ogun State. On October 6, 2024, Bishop Oyedepo also disclosed the approval during the Tehillah Night Special event held at Covenant University Chapel.
Gumi drew attention to a past incident from 2014, in which a prominent religious leader was linked to a private jet carrying $9.3 million in cash to South Africa, allegedly for the purchase of arms. The South African authorities seized the aircraft, which had two Nigerians and an Israeli onboard. He highlighted the potential risks of issuing private airstrip licenses, referencing ongoing security challenges such as insurgency, kidnapping, and banditry.
The lawmaker raised concerns that granting private airstrips could facilitate the illegal importation of firearms, hard drugs, and other contraband into the country, worsening the nation’s security situation. According to Gumi, with security agencies already struggling to trace the sources of weapons supplied to insurgents and other criminal elements, adding private airstrips could exacerbate the problem.
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In response, the House adopted the motion, directing the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace to halt the issuance of airstrip licenses to private entities, citing the potential threat to national security.
