The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, said on Sunday that private planes, including those owned by the Founder of the Living Faith Church Worldwide, Bishop David Oyedepo, and other privileged Nigerians cannot leave the country without clearance from relevant authorities.
The minister stated this in a Channels Television’s programme, Sunday Politics.
He stressed that all planes, including military drones, must obtain clearance before entering or leaving the country.
“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,” the minister explained.
This clarification comes after the House of Representatives called for the revocation of airstrip licenses issued to certain individuals and private organizations over security concerns.
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The House also demanded an immediate suspension of new airstrip license approval for individuals and organisations in the country.
Keyamo, however, insisted that Oyedepo’s airstrip was subjected to a similar process.
“Oh yes. That’s no problem. They were only concerned that they thought somebody could take off from a private airstrip and fly out of Nigeria or into Nigeria. It is not possible,” he said.
The minister also revealed that Nigeria has over 40 airstrips, 23 of which are federal and eight or nine of which are state airports.
“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 concluded.
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