The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has explained why the jet of popular clergyman Bishop David Oyedepo cannot leave his private airstrip without clearance.
Keyamo shared light on the issue on Sunday while featuring as a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today.
He disclosed that there is no way the jets of wealthy Nigerians including the aforementioned cleric can leave the country without the necessary clearance.
Keyamo made the clarification barely two months after House of Representatives members called for a revocation of airstrip licences issued to certain individuals and private organisations, citing security reasons.
He insisted that a plane or drone, even if it belongs to the military, cannot leave Nigeria without approval from the agency.
Responding to a question on whether Oyedepo went through the same process, Keyamo replied: “Oh yes, absolutely. That’s no problem. They were only concerned about the fact that they thought that somebody can take off from a private airstrip and fly out of Nigeria or fly into Nigeria. It is not possible.
“You must land in an international airport first. Then the Customs, immigration and NDLEA will process you before you take off from there to your private airstrip.
“If you are also flying out, you must land at an international airport. You will go through Customs, immigration and all the normal process before flying out.
“So nobody uses an airstrip for any such purpose without seeking clearance. At every point in time, the authorities must approve.”