- Safiu Kehinde
The House of Representatives are set to probe the approval of Bishop David Oyedepo’s airstrip construction project by the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo.
A member of the legislative house had, in a video of a recent plenary session shared on X on Wednesday, raised a motion for the investigation,
The lawmaker alleged that the airstrip set to be constructed by the Living Faith Church’s General Overseer, could be used in indulging in scrupulous activities.
He expressed that granting airstrip to private individuals and organizations will aid illegal importation of firearms and hard drugs into the country.
“Aware that the Federal Government through the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace, Festus Keyamo, confirmed the approval of an airstrip for a religious based organization in Otta, Ogun state.
“Recall that in September 2014, a popular religious leader was linked with a private jet used to convey $9.3 million in cash to South Africa for purchase of arms.
“The private jet was seized by the South African authorities which has two people on board- an Nigerian and an Israeli.
“Concerned over the current security challenge that Nigeria is facing through illegal importation of firearms and ammunition, importation of illicit hard drugs, coupled with the inability of our military to pin point the source of supply of weapons to insurgents, kidnappers, and separatists what have massacred thousands of Nigerians across the country.
“Worried, by granting airstrip to private individuals and organizations, it 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 lawmaker said.
The house, according to the lawmaker, resolved to the calling on Keyamo to stop the issuance of licenses to private individuals and organizations.
They also called for the withdrawal of approvals already granted to private individuals and organizations.
The motion was seconded by Hon. Nnamdi Ezechi representing Ndokwa East, Ndokwa East, and Ukwuani Federal Constituency of Delta State.
In his remark, the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abass, charged the committee on aviation to investigate the case as he passed the motion.