The managers of Osubi Airport, a private terminal in Warri, Delta State is reportedly heavily indebted to federal aviation agencies – as much as N1.85 billion for services rendered to the management of the airport per a news report by Daily Independent.
A breakdown of the debt profile shows that N865 million is for traffic control provided by Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA); while N1 billion is for provision of security, aerodrome rescue and fire-fighting, as well as sundry services over the years; a situation aviation experts believe would threaten the reopening of the facility.
It was also reported that the airport has been taken over by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC); and that the corporation had already reached ‘a gentleman’s agreement’ with aviation agencies to settle the debts.
A source said: “I can tell you that they still owe aviation agencies some billions of naira for services rendered to them.
“For instance, the managers of the airport, as of last Friday, owe NAMA about N864 million for the services rendered.
“NNPC said it is taking over the airport and would pay the debts they owe us.
“I believe they are part-owners of the airport. NNPC has a gentleman agreement with us, which prompted us to want to go back to the airport.
In spite of the huge debt; the aviation agencies were making frantic efforts to return to the airport after about a year of withdrawal of services due to covid-19 restrictions, it was gathered.
“Currently, we are working out the modalities of returning to the airport”, the source said.
The General Manager, Corporate Communications, FAAN, Mrs. Henrietta Yakubu confirmed that the managers of the airport were yet to settle their debt to the agency, but said both parties had reached an agreement on mode of repayment.
“No, they haven’t paid. We are making plans to get the money back.
“I don’t have the record on the actual amount of money they owe us, but we are making efforts to get the money from them”, she said.
Recall that Sen. Hadi Sirika, the Minister of Aviation, in his Twitter handle on Monday night, revealed that he had approved the reopening of the airport for flight services for daylight operations.
According to him, the facility would be opened for operations in daylight in Visual Flight Rules (VFR) conditions, while observing covid-19 protocols.
He tweeted: “I have just approved the reopening of Osubi Airport, Warri, for daylight operations in Visual Flight Rules (VFR) conditions, subject to all procedures, practices and protocols, including COVID-19, strictly being observed. There will not be a need for local approvals henceforth”.
Also, Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State announced last week during the concession ceremony of Asaba International Airport that the state had concluded arrangements for the reopening of the airport.