The House of Assembly on Wednesday expressed concerns over the airstrip licence recently awarded to Pastor David Oyedepo’s Living Faith Church and other individuals by the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace.
The House noted that the indiscriminate award of airport licences to individuals and organisations could worsen insecurity through the illegal importation of arms and ammunition into the country.
This request came after Rep. Sulaiman Abubakar Gumi presented an urgent motion titled “Need to Stop Issuance of Airstrip Licenses to Private Individuals and Organizations” during a meeting in Abuja.
Gumi pointed out that the Federal Government, through Minister Festus Keyamo, had approved an airstrip for Living Faith Church located in Canaanland, Ota, Ogun State.
He recalled that on October 6, 2024, Bishop David Oyedepo, the founder of Living Faith Church, announced receiving approval for the airstrip during a special event at the church.
Gumi reminded everyone of a past incident in September 2014, when a well-known religious leader was involved with a private jet that was caught transporting $9.3 million in cash to South Africa for arms purchases.
The jet was seized by South African authorities and had two Nigerians and one Israeli on board.
He expressed concern that Nigeria is currently facing serious security issues, including the illegal import of weapons and drugs. These problems make it hard for security agencies to track where weapons used by insurgents and kidnappers come from, leading to violence that has killed thousands of Nigerians.
Gumi warned that allowing airstrips for private individuals and organizations could worsen these problems by facilitating the illegal importation of weapons and drugs, further fueling crime and violence that harm the country’s development.
The House has asked the Committees on Aviation and Legislative Compliance to make sure these measures are followed.
