Air travelers in Delta State would soon be availed the facilities of Osubi Airport as the state governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa has assured of its reopening in a fortnight.
The governor who revealed this on Tuesday during the signing ceremony of the concession agreement of Asaba International Airport to First Investment Development Company (FIDC)-MENZIES Aviation (MA) at the Government House, Asaba; said he was in talks with the management of the Federal Airports Authority to ensure that the airport bounce back to full operation.
Governor Okowa said his administration will ensure that FAAN keeps their promise to assuage the sufferings of Deltans.
“I am happy to announce that based on my personal intervention on the Osubi Airport closure, the Federal Airports Authority has made a commitment to resume operations at the airport within two weeks.
“I am relieved that the hardship which the closure had inflicted on our people and businesses is about to end. We will work closely with FAAN to ensure that the target date is met. In fact, I am pleased that the authority’s General Manager, Operations, Mrs Olajumoke Oni, is here with us.
“The State Government is supporting the resumption process with some logistics, particularly in the area of covid-19 protocols, even though the airport is not our property.
“Furthermore, we have had fruitful discussions with the management of United Nigeria Airways to commence full operation on that route immediately it is reopened and they have assured us of their readiness to do so. It is my earnest hope and expectation that other airlines will follow suit”, the governor said.
Air travelers from the state have been constrained by the closure of the Osubi Airport early last year due to covid-19 restrictions.
Since the closure of the airport, passengers had to make tortuous trips to and from Benin City, as well as Asaba and Port Harcourt in order to travel through the airports in the cities.