National Security: House Of Reps Urges FG to Withdraw Oyedepo’s Airstrip Licenses

In the interest of national security, the House of Representatives urged the federal government to withdraw airstrip licenses issued to Bishop David Oyedepo of the Living Faith Church.

The request was moved on Wednesday amidst adopting a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Abubakar Gumi, a member representing Gummi/Bukkuyum Federal Constituency of Zamfara State.

During the motion, Gumi recalled the approval given to the church in Ogun State, a decision confirmed by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, on October 9, 2024.

The Founder of Living Faith Church, also known as Winners Chapel, Bishop David Oyedepo, on Sunday, October 6, 2024, ‘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, Gumi stated.

Similarly, the lawmaker recalled a similar case in September 2014 when “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, he said, adding, 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.

Gumi justified the referenced incident, arguing that such approval of private airstrip to 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.”

In response, Tajudeen Abbass, Speaker of the House, put to motion a voice vote and ruled in favour of the prayer that the Aviation Minister, Keyamo, stop the issuance of airstrip licenses to private individuals and organisations.

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Mayowa Durosinmi

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M. Durosinmi is a West Africa Weekly investigative reporter covering Politics, Human Rights, Health, and Security in West Africa and the Sahel Region

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