By Onome Oghenetega
The House of Representatives has directed relevant Federal Government agencies including the Federal Ministry of Aviation to expand the Osubi Airport in Okpe Local Government Area of Delta State to accommodate bigger aircrafts.
The directive was sequel to a motion sponsored by the member representing Okpe, Sapele and Uvwie Federal Constituency, Chief Efe Afe and adopted by the House.
Osubi Airport was privately owned and operated by Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) until it was recently taken over by the Federal Government. The airport is located in Osubi Community.
Afe, while reading benefits of the bill, told his colleagues that an expansion of the Osubi Airport will open it up for bigger aircrafts and accelerate commercial activities in Delta State particularly in Warri, Effurun and Okpe Federal Constituency.
The federal lawmaker stressed that the airport was built to ease air movements and attract commercial activities to enhance the economic development of the area.
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He stated that following the inability of its former operators to effectively run the airport, management of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority terminated the contract in February 2020 and commercial activities to the airport was grounded for over a year.
It was, however, reopened for operations in February 2021 when the House passed a resolution that the Ministry of Aviation should ensure its reopening.
Afe thanked the Federal Government for re-opening the airport for operations in response to the call and plight of the people of Delta.
He further posited that the expansion of Osubi Airport will boost and alleviate suffering of passengers who queue daily to be airlifted to Abuja and Lagos for their business activities.
The lawmaker appreciated President Muhammadu Buhari, Delta State Governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, the Minister of Aviation, the Management of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) for the re-opening airport.
The House urged the Federal Ministry of Aviation and other relevant Agencies to commence the expansion of the facilities at the Airport to accommodate bigger aircraft that will increase the economic activities in the area and subsequently mandated its Committee on Aviation to ensure compliance.
