The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, on Sunday said there was no way the private plane of privileged Nigerians, including the Founder and Presiding Bishop of Living Faith Bible Church Worldwide, Bishop David Oyedepo, can leave the country directly from their airstrips without first securing clearance from relevant authorities.

Keyamo made the clarification when he was featured as a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today.

His statement comes barely two months after members of the House of Representatives called for a revocation of airstrip licences issued to certain individuals and private organisations, citing security reasons.

The House also called for an immediate halt to new airstrip licences for individuals and organisations.

But Keyamo insisted that there was no way a plane or drone, even if it belongs to the military, can leave or come into the country without first getting a nod from the agency.

When asked if the airstrip of Oyedepo also passed through the same due process, Keyamo nodded.

He said, “Oh yes, absolutely. That’s no problem. They were only concerned about the fact that they thought that somebody can take off from a private airstrip and fly out of Nigeria or fly into Nigeria. It is not possible.

“You must land in an international airport first. Then the Customs, immigration and NDLEA will process you before you take off from there to your private airstrip. If you are also flying out, you must land at an international airport. You will go through Customs, immigration and all the normal process before flying out.

“So nobody uses an airstrip for any such purpose without seeking clearance. At every point in time, the authorities must approve.”

When quizzed on how many airstrips the country is operating at the moment, Keyamo said they are in the range of 40.

“We have a number of them, more than 40. For the federal airport, we have 23. The state airport has about eight or nine now.

“And then the airstrips are about 40 or thereabouts. I have been there myself,” he stated.

The Abia State Ministry of Health has reacted to the hospitalisation of some persons who attended a free medical outreach in Abiriba, Ohafia LGA, on Saturday, saying that the distribution of drugs to the public by uncertified persons was without the authorisation of the state government.

The Commissioner for Health, Professor Enoch Ogbonnaya Uche, who said this in a press release on Sunday, said that the organisers of the medical outreach did not obtain approval from the state government before embarking on the exercise.

He therefore announced that any medical outreach without authorisation from the Ministry of Health is illegal and can put the health of Abia people in jeopardy, warning that those who do so would be made to face the full wrath of the law.

DAILY POST recalls that many people were rushed to the hospital on Saturday at Abiriba after developing some medical emergencies on return from the medical outreach organised by a group.

According to Processor Uche, preliminary reports indicated that medications distributed during the outreach may have caused adverse drug reactions among unsuspecting recipients, even as he said that the identified victims of these untoward medical events are currently receiving medical attention at designated public health facilities within the state.

“Our dedicated healthcare personnel are working assiduously to stabilise and treat affected people. The Abia State Ministry of Health is deeply concerned by the dire consequences and high risk posed by unauthorised healthcare activities. We wish to hereby warn the public to be cautious of individuals and groups organising unapproved healthcare events,” said the health commissioner.

Renowned Christian filmmaker and evangelist, Mike Bamiloye, has raised concerns about the challenges some pastors face in their marriages, attributing these struggles to the behavior of their wives.

Bamiloye shared that many pastors are unable to fully enjoy their marriages because their wives use their husbands’ pastoral roles against them. He explained that some pastors’ wives feel secure in the knowledge that their husbands, being men of God, are unlikely to consider divorce or other drastic measures. This, according to Bamiloye, emboldens them to act in ways that strain the marital bond.

He pointed out that such behavior not only affects the pastors but also impacts their ministry, as they are expected to maintain exemplary relationships in the eyes of their congregations.

In addressing this issue, Bamiloye emphasized the need for mutual respect, understanding, and open communication in pastoral marriages. He urged pastors and their wives to prioritize their relationship and seek counseling when faced with difficulties.

“Pastors’ marriages should be a beacon of light and a model for others. When the relationship at home is troubled, it can hinder the effectiveness of their ministry,” he noted.

Bamiloye’s observations have sparked important conversations within Christian circles about the unique pressures pastoral families face. His call to action serves as a reminder of the importance of building healthy relationships and seeking support to ensure that ministry work does not come at the cost of personal happiness and marital stability.