November 01, 2024
By Samuel Ogunsona
Nigerian Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, has moved to clarify controversy surrounding Bishop David Oyedepo’s private airstrip in Canaanland, following a recent call by a House of Representatives member to revoke its license.
Keyamo on his X handle on Friday shed light on the regulatory framework governing private airstrips, dismissing concerns over potential security breaches.
In his statement, Keyamo explained that the House of Representatives as a whole did not support the revocation call, which was initiated by an individual member. The motion was subsequently referred to the Aviation Committee for further investigation.
Keyamo commended the member’s patriotic intentions but noted that the motion stemmed from a lack of understanding of the aviation sector.
He wrote, “I think this is not correct. The House of Reps. as a body did not call on the Minister to revoke the license of any private airstrip. I think what happened is that someone moved a motion in that regard and it was unanimously referred to the Aviation Committee to look into it. Whilst the intention of the Hon. Member who moved it is very patriotic, it was based on a complete lack of knowledge of the aviation sector. By the time we explain to them how private air strips work and the processes they undergo by our agencies before the final approval, they will be satisfied”
He emphasized that private airstrip owners, such as Canaanland, are only responsible for building the runway and terminal building. The control tower, however, is handed over to the Federal Government through the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), which controls Nigeria’s airspace.
He continued, “The responsibility of the owners of private air strips is just to build the runway and terminal building. But after they build the control tower in particular, it is completely handed over to the Federal Government through NAMA (Nigerian Airspace Management Agency) which is in complete control of the entire airspace in Nigeria.
“MOU is usually signed with NAMA in this regard before the airstrip is approved for operations. It is NAMA that provides the Air Traffic Controllers and Engineers in ALL AIRPORTS and AIRSTRIPS IN NIGERIA. And the privates air strip owners pay the Federal Government handsomely for these services”
Keyamo recently directed that all incoming aircraft must first land at international airports for processing and checking before proceeding to local airports or airstrips.
“No object flies into Nigeria without the prior clearance by NAMA and without filing a clear flight plan, eg, where it is taking off from and where it intends to land.
“And I have recently directed that all aircraft coming into the country MUST first land at our international airports where they would be properly processed and checked before they make their local flights into whatever airport or airstrip they intend to go. So, it is COMPLETELY AND TOTALLY impossible for any private airstrip owner to just jump on an aircraft and fly in and out of the country through that facility.
“The Federal Government does not permit that. You will not be cleared for take off or landing without prior request and authorisation. I thank the Member for his patriotism, but I wish he contacted us first to explain to him before rushing to move such a motion. I attach herewith for public consumption the NAMA Act that gives exclusive control of the Nigerian airspace to the Federal Government through NAMA” Keyamo said.
