The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, has urged the House of Representatives committees on Aviation and Legislative Compliance to be transparent and impartial in their investigation into the airstrip licence granted to Living Faith Church.
A statement by CAN president, Daniel Okoh, on Saturday, said the church adhered to all regulatory procedures in securing a licence for the airstrip.
Okoh said to prematurely associate the church with potential illegal activities, without substantive evidence, risks undermining the integrity of both religious institutions and regulatory bodies, adding that the church stands firm on its commitment to legality and transparency.
“As the House Committees on Aviation and Legislative Compliance undertake their investigation, it is imperative that this process remains transparent and impartial.
“We urge the lawmakers to consider the broader implications of their actions and rhetoric, ensuring that religious undertones do not cloud objective judgement. The church has always been a stronghold for peace, development, and community service,” he said.
According to him, revoking the church’s airstrip licence without substantial evidence could unjustly undermine the rights of religious organisations and set a troubling precedent for future cases.
Salient Times recalls that in October, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, approved an airstrip for the Living Faith church.
The runway is situated in Otta, Ogun State.
It was gathered that days after the approval, the Green Chamber of the National Assembly asked the Aviation Ministry to halt the issuance of airstrip licences to private individuals and organisations and to withdraw approvals already granted.
The resolution was followed by a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Sulaiman Abubakar, a lawmaker representing the Gummi/Bukkuyum federal constituency of Zamfara State.
Keyamo subsequently faulted the House’s resolution, saying Abubakar’s motion was based on a complete lack of knowledge of the aviation sector.
According to the minister, the responsibility of the owners of private airstrips is to build the runway and terminal building, adding that after the control tower is built, it is completely handed over to the federal government through the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, NAMA, which is in complete control of the entire airspace in Nigeria.
