Keyamo argued that the church did not violate any rule, stressing that it adhered to all legal processes before the airstrip was approved
By Kehinde Okeowo
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, on Sunday insisted that the license given to Living Faith Church, otherwise known as Winners’ Chapel, will not be withdrawn despite demands by federal legislators.
He made this known while featuring on Arise Television’s programme, ‘This Morning’, while reacting to insistence by the House of Representatives that licences issued to the church, other private individuals and organisations should be revoked to safeguard national security.
Speaking on the development during the interview, Keyamo said the church should not be singled out.
He went on to argue that Winners’ Chapel did not violate any rule, stressing that it adhered to all legal processes before the airstrip was approved.
He further said the decision to grant the church an airstrip does not endanger the country in any way because aeroplanes are not permitted to take off from private airstrips.
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Addressing the lawmakers’ concern, Keyamo said, “You can’t single out an individual in a country like this when you have given the same right to so many people and say withdraw that particular one. On what basis?
“The people have not breached any terms upon which we gave them the license. If you single them out, the constitution says you should not discriminate against any Nigerian. They are following the rules.
“It took me one year to approve that airstrip because we went through so many processes. By law, I said the minister would approve. That is what the law says. And it came to me. I looked at all the processes. I approved.
“You cannot take off from any private airstrip in Nigeria and fly outside the country. This is not possible. You must first land at an international airport.
“You will be well-processed and checked before you fly out. If you are flying in, you must first land at an international airport. You will be processed before you fly to your private airstrip.”
