Reps adopt Afe’s motion for reopening of Osubi Airport [VIDEO]

The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Government through the Minister of Aviation and other relevant agencies of government to ensure that the Osubi Airport reopens for operation as soon as possible.

The House took this resolution following a motion under a matter of urgent public importance by Hon Oberuakpefe Anthony Afe, representing Okpe/Sapele/Uvwie Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.

Presenting the motion on the floor of the House, Hon Afe noted that the infrastructure Warri Airport also known as Osubi Airport, located in Osubi Community in Okpe Local Government Area is an important facility that was privately owned and operated by Shell.

He further noted that the Airport was built by Shell Petroleum Development Company, commissioned on the 1st of April, 1991 and was reckoned to be one of the busiest aviation facilities in Nigeria as a result of the landing of modern Dornier 328 and Aero Contractors 50 Passenger Dash Aircraft.

Hon Afe told the House that the Osubi Airport was later acquired by the Federal Government of Nigeria in 2015 and was leased out to Shoreline Oil Services Limited, who managed the facility until the recent termination of their contract in February 2020, as a result of the myriad of complaints by airline operators who used the Airport.

While stressing the importance of the facility to Nigeria’s oil and gas operations and other commercial activities in the Niger Delta region, Hon Afe called on the Federal Government through the Ministry of Aviation to re-open the Osubi Airport for operation, maintaining that reports from different agencies concern, such as the Federal Airport Authority, FAAN, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, indicated that the Airport is viable and still meet with every necessary precautionary measure at this time of the Covid-19 Pandemic.