In the sake of national security, the House of Representatives has requested the Federal Government to remove airstrip permits that have already been awarded to private people and organisations.
This comes as the House seeks an immediate halt to the issue of new airport licenses to individuals and businesses.
Mr Abubakar Gumi, the member representing Gummi/Bukkuyum Federal Constituency in Zamfara State, sponsored the motion of urgent public concern, which resulted in the passage of the resolutions.
To justify the necessity of the motion, Gumi, who defected to the All Progressives Congress from the Peoples Democratic Party during Wednesday’s plenary, highlighted that until recently “The Federal Government, through the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, confirmed the approval of an airstrip for Living Faith Church situated on Canaanland in Ota, Ogun State.”
He additionally stated that on Sunday, October 6, 2024, “The Founder of Living Faith Church, also known as Winners Chapel, Bishop David Oyedepo, during the Tehillah Night special edition at Covenant University Chapel, Canaanland, Ota, Ogun State, informed his congregation of the approval of an airstrip granted by the Federal Government to his church.”
He noted that in September 2014, “a prominent religious leader was linked to a private jet used to transport $9.3 million in cash to South Africa for the purchase of arms.”
“The private jet which was seized by the South African authorities had two Nigerians and an Israeli on board.
“The House is concerned that the country currently experiences security challenges through illegal importation/proliferation of firearms and ammunition, importation of illicit/hard drugs, coupled with the inability of our security agencies to pinpoint the source of supply of weapons to insurgents, kidnappers and separatists that have massacred thousands of Nigerians across the country.”
He argued that “Granting airstrip to private individuals and organisations will aid illegal importation of firearms and hard drugs into the country, thus heightening insurgency, kidnapping, banditry and other vices that are seriously affecting the socio-economic development of the country.”
When the Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, put the proposal to a voice vote, parliamentarians who opposed the prayer were as outspoken as those who supported it.
However, the Speaker decided in favor of the “Ayes” after the House ordered the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development to halt the issuing of airstrip permits to private people and organisations.
The House also requested that the government remove approvals already granted to private people and organizations in order to protect national security.
