The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has defended his decision to approve a private airstrip amid rising concerns and allegations of preferential treatment.
Keyamo insisted on his decision while speaking during a live programme on Arise News on Sunday, as he stressed the importance of fairness and adherence to legal processes in granting approvals for private airstrips.
“You can’t single out an individual in a country like this when you have given the same right to so many people and say withdraw that particular one. On what basis?” Keyamo asked.
“The people have not breached any terms upon which we gave them the licence. If you single them out, the constitution says you should not discriminate against any Nigerian. They are following the rules.”
Keyamo explained that the approval process for the airstrip was rigorous and took over a year to complete.
“It took me one year to approve that airstrip because we went through so many processes. By law, it said the minister would approve. That is what the law says. And it came to me. I looked at all the processes. I approved,” he said.
The minister rejected accusations that the approval could be interpreted as favouritism, emphasising that similar permissions had been granted across the country.
“Why should I not approve when others have been approved across the country? That is why we must be careful not to see this as an attack on the church. Once they have fulfilled the obligations, why not?” he questioned.
Keyamo also addressed security concerns, assuring Nigerians that stringent measures are in place for private airstrips.
He noted that no private aircraft can depart directly from an airstrip to an international destination without undergoing thorough checks at a designated airport.
“You cannot take off from any private airstrip in Nigeria and fly outside the country. This is not possible. You must first land at an international airport. You will be well processed and checked before you fly out. If you are flying in, you must first land at an international airport. You will be processed before you fly to your private airstrip,” he explained.
Recall that the House of Representatives had instructed the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace to stop the issuance of airstrip licences to private individuals and organisations.
They also called for the withdrawal of licences already granted to Living Faith Church, as well as to other private individuals and organisations, to safeguard national security.
