The itch to contribute meaningfully to the ongoings on the already approved license to operate an airstrip by Bishop Oyedepo is deeply insistent
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This is so because of many benefits that may accrue from such a development: from infrastructural development to improved connectivity, economic growth and many other unthinkable benefits to the populace in general .
First and foremost, to establish a private airstrip in Nigeria, individuals or organizations must meet regulatory criteria set by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) National Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) and other related authorities.
These requirements are to ensure safety, compliance, and that the airstrip benefits the country.
To be precise, before the airstrip approval is granted the applicant must comply with the criteria set up by NCAA and NAMA.
Individuals and organizations must submit a detailed application, including the purpose of the airstrip, location, and intended use.
Secondly, the applicant must perfect an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA): The Federal Ministry of Environment typically requires an EIA to understand the airstrip’s environmental impact, ensuring it does not negatively affect the surrounding ecosystem.
The third one is the Compliance with Zoning Laws.
This simply means that the location of the airstrip must comply with local zoning and land-use regulations. It must not conflict with residential or commercial areas unless special permissions are granted which is not in this case.
On the issue raised on ‘Adequate Safety and Security Provisions”, it is mandatory that safety measures must meet NCAA standards, covering aspects such as runway construction, lighting, signage, and emergency procedures.
Security protocols must also be in place, aligned with national security regulations.
It is also part of the criteria for granting the License that ‘Accessibility for Inspections and Audits’.
NCAA is bounded in law to conduct periodic inspections to ensure ongoing compliance. The airstrip must be accessible for these audits and any required certifications.
All these l assumed were resolved by many agencies before the License to operate the airstrip approval.
Then there is the ‘Financial Requirements’. Applicants must demonstrate sufficient financial resources to build, maintain, and operate the airstrip, ensuring that it meets standards without needing government funding.
People like Bishop Oyedepo wouldn’t start a project doomed to failure because of finance, that l think is very clear to the antagonists of the project, nay Bishop Oyedepo himself.
Same goes for the ‘Maintenance and Operational Standards’.
The rule is that the airstrip must demonstrate that it has an ongoing maintenance and operation plan . This includes ensuring the runway is properly maintained and emergency services are accessible.
Did Oyedepo sufficiently meet this criteria, l believe he did before an approval was given.
There is also the ‘Community Consideration’ .
There is no compromise that there should be provisions in place to address any concerns from local communities, including noise, environmental impact, and disruption of daily life.
This l believe is also sufficiently demonstrated by the team put in place by the Bishop.
Now then, let us look at the benefits of the airstrip to Ogun and Lagos States in particular and Nigeria in general.
What is improved connectivity?
This private airstrips can enhance connectivity to remote areas, supporting tourism, business, and emergency response, especially in regions not served by commercial airports. Where there is natural disaster of a huge dimension, airstrips like this comes handy for lifting wounded people to where help can be sure.
On the economic growth, private airstrips attract investment and may stimulate economic activity in surrounding areas.
For instance, this airstrip will lead to infrastructure development and definitely create local jobs.
It is bound to support ‘Agriculture and Industry’.
Private airstrips all over the world are known to facilitate logistics for industries such as agriculture and mining, enabling faster transport of goods, personnel, and resources.
They automatically reduced pressure on Public Airports and more importantly alleviate congestion at major airports, reducing delays and operational load on public facilities.
I mentioned earlier on that airstrip are a way out for emergency and ‘Disaster Response’.
They serve as access points for disaster response teams, medical evacuations, and humanitarian aid, which can be crucial in remote or disaster-prone regions.
What about high profile tourism development?
There are high networth individuals who has airplanes and would prefer a well – ran private airstrips to land their crafts.
High profile hotels designed for high networth individuals will also spring up to accommodate such people.
Overall,we all know that private airstrips, when regulated and well-maintained, can support Nigeria’s economic and infrastructural goals while improving mobility, safety, and access to essential services.
Meanwhile, before a member of the National Assembly would stand up to move a motion to kill a great idea, is it not incumbent on him to do due diligence through all agencies concerned to establish the veracity of the approval or do a little study on establishment of airstrip or send an oversight committee to visit the promoters of the laudable project?
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It is interesting to note that we mouth it that we are a democracy and the biggest beneficiary of their so- called democracy are the elected and the appointed politicians.
They go to sleep in the chambers when they feel like going there and in most instances never even attend plenary sessions.
If we copy American democracy and their free market system, this people should know that there are as of 2022, approximately 14,776 private-use airports in the United States. This is sharply in contrast to the approximately 5,193 public-use airports in the country.
As at 2019, Americans own about 65% of all the world’s private aircraft.
In Nigeria, we have 44 in 2005 and as am writing this article in 2024, we have 157 in 2024, owned by high net-worth individuals and foreigners.
It is either lack of knowledge and understanding of the Nigerian constitution that is driving this move by people who were elected to protect the constitution or envy and bigotry mixed together.
The question is: Does the Nigerian Constitution allow ownership of private jet and airstrip?
Did Oyedepo meet the criterion to own a private airstrip? If the answer is in the affirmative, then what is the problem?
