Reps urge FG to revoke Oyedepo’s Living Faith Church’s airstrip licence

For security considerations, the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace has been urged by the House of Representatives to cease awarding airfield licenses to private persons and organizations.

The call followed Sulaiman Gumi’s (APC-Zamfara) motion being adopted in Wednesday’s plenary in Abuja.

In order to protect national security, the House further demanded that any approvals already given to private individuals and organizations be revoked.

Mr. Gumi made the motion earlier and stated that the federal government had approved an airstrip to Living Faith Church, located at Canaanland in Ota, Ogun, through Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Festus Keyamo.

He recalled that on October 6, David Oyedepo, the founder of the church, also called Winners Chapel, told his congregation that the federal government had approved the airfield.

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Mr. Gumi recalled that a well-known religious figure was allegedly connected to a private jet that transported $9.3 million in cash to South Africa for the purpose of buying weapons in September 2014.

According to reports, there were two Nigerians and an Israeli on board the private jet that was taken by South African officials, he claimed.

The illegal importation and proliferation of firearms and ammunition, as well as the importation of illicit or hard narcotics, are causing security issues for the nation at the moment.

“Our security authorities are unable to identify the source of the weaponry supplied to separatists, rebels, and kidnappers who have slaughtered thousands of Nigerians around the nation.

We are concerned that giving private individuals and organizations access to an airport may make it easier for illegal firearms and hard drugs to enter the nation.

“This has the potential to intensify insurgency, kidnapping, banditry, and other vices that are negatively impacting the nation’s socio-economic progress,” he stated.

Speaker Tajudee Houseas ordered the Committees on Legislative Compliance and Aviation to make sure that the rules were followed.