The Founder of Living Faith Church, also known as Winners’ Chapel, Bishop David Oyedepo, has dismissed speculations that his aircraft was purchased using church members’ offerings.

He spoke while delivering a sermon in a trending video.

TheNigerian Online reports that while the video was said to have been recorded in 2024, it is currently trending again on social media.

In the video, Oyedepo clarified that the acquisition of the aircraft was purely an act of divine provision, and not the result of financial planning, fundraising, or personal ambition.

According to him, the purchase came as a fulfillment of God’s plan, and no pressure was placed on church members to contribute towards it.

Oyedepo said, “He bought the first aircraft without any prayer, without any idea that the aircraft was coming. He said it, he delivered it, nobody had any pressure on his life. There was no reminder on the offering.

“The offering didn’t buy it oo! God bought it. There was no person contacted under heaven. No! God said it and I believe it and that settles it.”

The cleric further asserted that the aircraft was not a product of personal ambition but a divinely orchestrated event saying, “It wasn’t an ambition, it was a unveiled divine agenda. If God asked me ‘David, when do you want that aircraft to be bought?’ I would have said ‘God, take it easy, take it easy, we are not near ready. Aircraft?

“’Okay, let me find out first how much they sell it.’ He didn’t give us the room to find out. Not the aircraft that would go from here to Ilorin or Ogbomosho.”

Recall that in 2024 Oyedepo announced that the Federal Government approved the construction of an airstrip for Faith Tabernacle, Canaanland.

He added that the development will enable him to travel directly from the church premises, eliminating the need to fly to the airport first.

“I won’t need to fly a helicopter to the airport. I can leave from here to wherever I am going. Members with their planes will have where to land and park,” the bishop had said.

The Magistrate’s Court No. 70 in Kano State has remanded four persons in prison custody for conspiracy to commit theft.

The accused, Nuhu Auwalu, Yakubu Bala, Emmanuel Luka, and Safianu Abdullahi, allegedly stole 80 aircraft brake units from Azman Airlines at the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA) in Kano.

According to the charge sheet, the security guard of Azman Airlines conspired with the accused to commit the theft, which was reported by Otaru Bashir, an employee of the airline, on December 11, 2024. The accused, however, denied any the allegations.

During the court session, it was revealed that three brake units were found in Yakubu Bala’s possession during the investigation.

The court, presided over by Justice Faruk Ibrahim Umar, remanded the accused persons in a correctional facility and scheduled the next hearing for February 11, 2025.

Aircraft engineers and technicians of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) have reactivated a Dornier DO-228 aircraft that had been grounded for 23 years.

A statement by the NAF spokesman, Air Vice Marshal Olusola Akinboyewa, announcing the achievement underscores NAF’s growing capacity for indigenous maintenance to bolster its operational readiness whilst contributing to Nigeria’s inherent aviation capabilities.

The aircraft, originally designated “5N-MPS” and operated by the now defunct Ministry of Mines, Power, and Steel, had been grounded at the DANA facility in Kaduna since 2001.

He said following the presidential directive for ministries, departments, and agencies to transfer such grounded platforms to the NAF for evaluation and possible reactivation, the NAF initiated this project.
AVM Akinboyewa said the NAF took on the challenge to reactivate the aircraft, a Dash 201 Series with only 1,081 flight hours, considering the task a unique opportunity to restore a valuable national asset.
He said the reactivation process for the grounded aircraft – redesignated “NAF-039” – was conducted between June and September 2024, involving meticulous planning and painstaking execution by a crack team of five engineering officers and 40 technicians from the NAF 431 Engineering Group (Engr Gp), Kaduna.

According to him, the task required the application of advanced engineering techniques and adherence to stringent aviation standards.

“The success of this project carries significant strategic implications, bearing in mind that, beyond enhancing the NAF’s fleet, it symbolises the service’s resolve to achieve self-reliance in aviation maintenance for operational effectiveness. It also serves as a morale booster for the NAF engineers and technicians, showcasing their ability to undertake complex projects which otherwise would be outsourced to foreign entities.”

The chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, commended the 431 Engr Group for their dedication and emphasised the achievement’s broader import.

The CAS stated that the project reflects NAF’s resolve to optimise resources, strengthen its fleet, and uphold national security through operational excellence.
He said, “The successful reactivation of NAF 039 is not just an operational gain; it is a statement of our capabilities and commitment to self-reliance.”

According to the statement, the accomplishment builds upon the NAF’s earlier successes, such as conducting the first in-country 4,800-hour inspection on another DO-228 aircraft in January 2024.

“Together, these milestones highlight the NAF’s growing capacity for advanced in-house aircraft maintenance and serve as a foundation for future projects to achieve technical autonomy.

“The reactivation of NAF-039 after 23 years is more than an engineering achievement; it showcases the NAF’s ingenuity, resilience, and commitment to operational excellence.

” It also reaffirms the Air Force’s vital role in safeguarding Nigeria’s territorial integrity while highlighting its dedication to resource optimisation and self-reliance.”

AVM Akinboyewa said the newly reactivated aircraft would bolster the NAF’s tactical airlift capabilities by joining the fleet of DO 228 aircraft, a platform still actively used worldwide.

“This achievement solidifies the NAF’s position as a formidable player in Africa’s aviation sector, with the potential to lead in indigenous maintenance and technical innovation,” he added.

Aircraft engineers and technicians of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) have reactivated a Dornier DO-228 aircraft, which was grounded for 23 years.

A statement by the NAF spokesman, Air Vice Marshal Olusola Akinboyewa, announcing the feat, underscored NAF’s growing capacity for indigenous maintenance to bolster its operational readiness, whilst contributing to Nigeria’s inherent aviation capabilities.

The aircraft, originally designated ‘5N-MPS’ and operated by the now defunct Ministry of Mines, Power, and Steel, was grounded at the DANA facility in Kaduna since 2001.

He said following a presidential directive for Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to transfer such grounded platforms to the NAF for evaluation and possible reactivation, the NAF initiated the project.

AVM Akinboyewa said the NAF took on the challenge to reactivate the aircraft, a Dash 201 Series with only history of 1,081 flight hours, considering the task a unique opportunity to restore a valuable national asset.

He said the reactivation process of the grounded aircraft, now redesignated ‘NAF-039’, was conducted between June and September 2024, involving meticulous planning and painstaking execution by a crack team of five engineering officers and 40 technicians from the NAF 431 Engineering Group (Engr Gp), Kaduna.

According to him, the task required the application of advanced engineering techniques and adherence to stringent aviation standards.

“The success of this project carries significant strategic implications, bearing in mind that, beyond enhancing the NAF’s fleet, it symbolises the Service’s resolve to achieve self-reliance in aviation maintenance for operational effectiveness. It also serves as a morale booster for the NAF engineers and technicians, showcasing their ability to undertake complex projects which otherwise would be outsourced to foreign entities,” he added.

The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, commended the 431 Engineering Group for their dedication, and emphasised the broader import of the achievement.

The CAS started that the project reflected NAF’s resolve to optimise resources, strengthen its fleet, and uphold national security through operational excellence.

The CAS was quoted as saying: “The successful reactivation of NAF 039 is not just an operational gain; it is a statement of our capabilities and our commitment to self-reliance.”

According to the statement, the accomplishment builds upon the NAF’s earlier successes, such as the conduct of the first in-country 4,800-hour inspection on another DO-228 aircraft in January 2024.

“Together, these milestones highlight the NAF’s growing capacity for advanced in-house aircraft maintenance, and serve as a foundation for future projects aimed at achieving technical autonomy.

“The reactivation of NAF-039 after 23 years is more than an engineering achievement; it showcases the NAF’s ingenuity, resilience, and commitment to operational excellence.

“It also reaffirms the Air Force’s vital role in safeguarding Nigeria’s territorial integrity, while highlighting its dedication to resource optimisation and self-reliance,” he stated.

AVM Akinboyewa said the newly reactivated aircraft will bolster the NAF’s tactical airlift capabilities by joining the fleet of DO 228 aircraft, a platform still actively used worldwide.

“This achievement solidifies the NAF’s position as a formidable player in Africa’s aviation sector, with the potential to lead in indigenous maintenance and technical innovation,” the Airforce spokesman added.

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