The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Government to withdraw airstrip licenses already issued to private individuals and organisations in the interest of national security.
This is even as the House sought immediate stoppage of the issuance of new licenses for the operation of airstrips to individuals and organisations.
The resolutions were 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.
Justifying the importance of the motion, Gumi, who defected to the All Progressives Congress from the Peoples Democratic Party during Wednesday’s plenary, noted that only 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 further said 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 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.”
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 motion was subjected to a voice vote by the Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, lawmakers who opposed the prayer were as loud as those who supported it.
However, the Speaker ruled in favour of the “Ayes” as the House urged 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.