Keyamo defends private airstrips, cites lack of understanding from lawmakers

Nigeria’s Aviation Minister, Festus Keyamo, on Friday, fired back at lawmakers seeking to revoke licenses of private airstrips, citing a lack of understanding of the aviation industry.

Keyamo clarified that the House of Representatives as a body did not call for revocation, but rather, a motion was moved by an individual member and referred to the Aviation Committee for investigation.

The controversy began when lawmakers, including Representative Sulaiman Abubakar, argued that frequent approvals of private airstrips could exacerbate security challenges.

However, Keyamo, via an X post, countered that private airstrip owners only build runways and terminal buildings, while the federal government, through the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), controls air traffic services and airspace management.

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“The responsibility of the owners of private airstrips is just to build the runway and terminal building. But after they build the control tower in particular, it is completely handed over to the Federal Government through NAMA,” Keyamo explained. He added that private airstrip owners pay the government for services provided by NAMA.

Keyamo emphasized that no aircraft can enter Nigerian airspace without prior clearance from NAMA and a clear flight plan. “I have recently directed that all aircraft coming into the country MUST first land at our international airports where they would be properly processed and checked before they make their local flights,” he stated.

The Minister appreciated the lawmaker’s patriotic intentions but urged them to seek clarification before moving motions. “I attach herewith for public consumption the NAMA Act that gives exclusive control of the Nigerian airspace to the Federal Government through NAMA,” Keyamo concluded.

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