Lawmaker’s bid to revoke airstrip licences shows aviation knowledge gap — Keyamo

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has said that the move by a member of the House of Representatives to revoke the licences of certain airstrips in the country demonstrates a lack of understanding of the aviation industry.

PUNCH Online gathered that some lawmakers, particularly in the House of Representatives, are pushing to revoke the airstrip licences of specific individuals and private organisations, allegedly on security grounds.

A member of the House of Representatives, Sulaiman Abubarka, argued in the House that the frequent approval of airstrips for private individuals could exacerbate the country’s security challenges.

The lawmaker stated that Nigeria “currently experiences security challenges through the illegal importation and proliferation of firearms and ammunition, as well as the importation of illicit drugs, coupled with the inability of our security agencies to trace the source of weapons supplied to insurgents, kidnappers, and separatists who have killed thousands across the country.”

“Granting airstrip licences to private individuals and organisations could facilitate the illegal importation of firearms and drugs into the country, thereby escalating insurgency, kidnapping, banditry, and other vices that severely impact the country’s socio-economic development,” he said.

Responding to the lawmaker’s concerns via his X handle on Saturday, Keyamo clarified that the House of Representatives as a body had not called for the revocation of any private airstrip licences.

He suggested that the individual who proposed such a motion may have done so with patriotic intentions but lacked an understanding of the aviation sector.

“I believe what happened was that someone moved a motion in this regard, and it was unanimously referred to the Aviation Committee for further review. Although the member’s intentions were patriotic, they were based on a lack of knowledge about the aviation sector,” Keyamo stated.

“Once we explain to them how private airstrips operate and the regulatory processes they must undergo through our agencies before final approval, they will be reassured. Private airstrip owners are only responsible for constructing the runway and terminal building.

“Once the control tower is built, however, it is entirely handed over to the Federal Government through the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), which oversees the entire airspace in Nigeria. An MOU is signed with NAMA before any airstrip is approved for operations.”

Keyamo also highlighted that NAMA provides Air Traffic Controllers and Engineers at all airports and airstrips, with private airstrip owners paying the Federal Government substantial fees for these services.

The minister further indicated that no aircraft can enter Nigerian airspace without prior clearance by NAMA and a clear flight plan detailing its take-off and landing points.

Keyamo explained that it is impossible for any private airstrip owner to unilaterally operate flights in and out of Nigeria. “You will not be cleared for take-off or landing without a prior request and authorisation. I thank the Member for his patriotism, but I wish he had consulted us first for clarification before moving such a motion,” he added.