The House of Representatives, on Wednesday, has urged the Federal Government to withdraw airstrip licenses already issued to Bishop David Oyedepo of the Living Faith Church, in the interest of national security.
Tribune Online earlier reports that the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, confirmed the approval of a private airstrip construction at Canaanland, the headquarters of Living Faith Church in Ota, Ogun State.
However, the House, sequel to the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by the member representing Gummi/Bukkuyum Federal Constituency of Zamfara State, Mr Abubakar Gumi, also sought immediate stoppage of the issuance of new licenses for the operation of airstrips to individuals and organisations.
Gumi, who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during the plenary, while speaking on the motion, alluded to the recent confirmation of approval of an airstrip at Canaanland by the Federal government
According to him, the Founder of Living Faith Church, also known as Winners Chapel, Bishop David Oyedepo, on on Sunday, October 6, 2024, “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.”
Justifying his motion to withdraw the private airstrip granted to Canaanland, the lawmaker recalled that in September 2014, “a prominent religious leader was linked with a private jet used to convey $9.3m 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.”
In his argument, Gumi opined that such approval for private individuals and organisations to own airstrips “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.”
The Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, in his reaction, subjected the motion to a voice vote and ruled in favour of the prayer, urging the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development to stop the issuance of airstrip licenses to private individuals and organisations.
The House also asked the government to withdraw approvals already granted to private individuals and organisations, to safeguard national security.
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