The Traffic

Festus Keyamo Sets the Record Straight on Living Faith Church’s Airstrip License—House of Reps Never Requested Revocation!

By Achimi Muktari

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has clarified misconceptions surrounding recent reports that claimed the House of Representatives requested the revocation of the private airstrip license issued to Living Faith Church, owned by Bishop David Oyedepo. Keyamo took to his X platform (formerly Twitter) on Friday to address the issue and provide clarity on the true proceedings that unfolded.

What Really Happened?

According to initial reports, the House of Representatives allegedly called on the Ministry of Aviation to halt the issuance of airstrip licenses to private individuals and organizations, citing national security concerns. The reports further suggested that they asked the Ministry to revoke existing licenses, including the one held by Living Faith Church. This news quickly gained traction, sparking widespread debates and concerns about the potential impact on private aviation.

However, Keyamo has denied these claims, stating that the House of Representatives never officially called for the revocation of any private airstrip license, including that of Living Faith Church. Instead, he explained that what actually transpired was the movement of a motion by an individual member of the House. This motion was then referred to the Aviation Committee for further investigation.

Keyamo’s Clarifications

In a detailed response, Keyamo explained that the suggestion for revocation came from a member of the House, whose intentions, although patriotic, were based on a lack of understanding of the aviation sector. Keyamo expressed confidence that once the committee is informed of how private airstrips operate and the strict regulatory framework they undergo, the concerns would be addressed.

He stated, "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. While the intention of the Honorable Member who moved it is very patriotic, it was based on a complete lack of knowledge of the aviation sector."

Keyamo further emphasized that private airstrip operations in Nigeria are tightly regulated, with the Federal Government maintaining control through the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA). "The responsibility of private airstrip owners is to build the runway and terminal building, but the control tower and airspace are under the Federal