Keyamo justifies private airstrip approval amid criticism

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has defended his decision to approve a private airstrip amidst mounting criticism and allegations of favoritism.

Speaking on Arise News’ This Morning program on Sunday, Keyamo emphasized the fairness and legality of the approval process, rejecting accusations of preferential treatment.

“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 license. If you single them out, the constitution says you should not discriminate against any Nigerian. They are following the rules.”

Keyamo clarified that the approval of the airstrip was not rushed, highlighting that it took over a year to finalize the process.

“It took me one year to approve that airstrip because we went through so many processes. By law, I 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 explained.

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Addressing allegations of favoritism, Keyamo pointed out that similar approvals have been granted across the country, making it unjust to single out one particular case.

“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 assured Nigerians of robust security measures for private airstrips, dismissing fears of potential misuse. He explained that private aircraft are subject to strict regulations, requiring all flights to undergo thorough checks at designated international airports before traveling abroad or after arriving in the country.

“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 stated.

The minister’s comments follow a directive from the House of Representatives instructing the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace to halt the issuance of licenses for private airstrips. The lawmakers also called for the revocation of licenses already granted, including one issued to Living Faith Church, citing concerns over national security.

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