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“Private Jets, Including Oyedepo’s, Can’t Fly Without Government Clearance” – Keyamo
The Nigerian government has reaffirmed that private aircraft owned by prominent individuals, including Bishop David Oyedepo, founder of Living Faith Church Worldwide, cannot operate from private airstrips without proper clearance from relevant authorities.
This was stated by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, during an interview on Channels Television on Sunday.
Keyamo’s clarification comes amidst discussions about the regulation of private airstrips, following a call by the House of Representatives approximately two months ago to revoke airstrip licenses granted to Bishop Oyedepo and other private individuals or organizations.
The lawmakers expressed concerns over national security, citing the alleged use of such facilities to smuggle illegal arms into the country by suspected sponsors of terrorism.
Explaining the government’s stance, Keyamo emphasized that strict protocols are in place to ensure that no aircraft or drone can operate in Nigerian airspace or land at private airstrips without thorough vetting.
He detailed the procedures required for any aircraft entering or leaving the country, underscoring the role of security and regulatory agencies in maintaining control.
“Every aircraft, regardless of its ownership, must adhere to international airport procedures,” Keyamo said.
“If a private jet is arriving in Nigeria, it must first land at an international airport, where agencies like Customs, Immigration, and the NDLEA will conduct thorough checks.
Only after this can the aircraft proceed to a private airstrip.”
Similarly, Keyamo explained the protocols for outbound flights.
“If you are flying out of Nigeria, you must start at an international airport.
Your plane will go through all the necessary clearances, including customs and immigration processes, before you are allowed to take off,” he added.
The minister stressed that at every stage of the process, authorities are involved in granting approvals to ensure that the system is not exploited for illicit activities.
“No private airstrip can be used for unauthorized purposes without the express permission of the authorities,” he noted.
This development highlights the government’s efforts to balance the privileges of private aviation with national security concerns.
Bishop Oyedepo, who is one of Nigeria’s most prominent religious leaders and the founder of the globally recognized Living Faith Church, owns several private jets.
His airstrip license has been a subject of public discourse, especially with allegations surrounding the misuse of private facilities.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has paid tribute to late Nigerian actor Olu Jacobs, recalling his contributions to the creative industry and his impact on Nigeria’s cultural identity.
In his tribute, Tinubu described Jacobs as a giant of the Nigerian creative industry and said “He was a giant of the Nigerian creative industry. His passing is a great loss to Nigeria, the African film industry and the global community of lovers of the performing arts. His remarkable body of work will continue to speak to generations yet unborn.
“The nation recognises the enormous contributions of Nigeria’s creative practitioners to the country’s cultural identity, global image and economic development. Olu Jacobs played a big role in creating this identity.”
Human rights lawyer and activist Deji Adeyanju has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to declare a state of emergency over the proliferation of counterfeit and substandard drugs and consumer products in Nigeria.
Adeyanju also called for the removal of the Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, as well as the heads of other regulatory agencies, including the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON).
“Nigerians are being exposed to dangerous products daily, from fake and substandard medicines to unsafe consumer goods, with reports of drugs being sold wholesale in the open under the hot sun. No responsible government should expose its citizens to such risks and expect mortality rates not to rise.”
Adeyanju also called out NAFDAC over what he described as failures in regulating the circulation of counterfeit and substandard products in the country.
It can be noted that various counterfeit products continue to circulate in Nigerian markets, while NAFDAC has also reported seizures and destruction of counterfeit, expired and substandard products.
Lagosians have lamented heavy traffic caused by ongoing construction work at Kara Bridge along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
The Federal Government announced that repairs on the damaged expansion joints at Kara Bridge would begin on September 8, 2026. The project, initially scheduled to begin in August, was delayed to allow further traffic management planning due to concerns over its impact on motorists.
Since work began, traffic around the Kara area has become heavy, with Lagosians sharing updates on social media about spending two hours or more on the road.
Some commuters say the delays have made their 9-to-5 routines difficult, with several hours spent travelling to and from work.
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