The recent desire of the Oyo State government to take charge of the Ibadan airport has sparked reactions across the country’s aviation sector.
The idea of taking over the airport cropped up when the state government played host to the Joint National Assembly Committee on Aviation led by the Chairman, Senate Committee On Aviation, Senator Smart Adeyemi.
Speaking to the aviation committee members, Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde had asked the Federal Government to take necessary steps to uplift the standard of the Ibadan Airport, declaring that making Ibadan a regional airport will be beneficial to the state and the national economy.
The height of the meeting came with a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, quoting the governor as saying that the state was willing to lead the charge to turnaround the airport if the Federal Government would agree to hand it over.
According to the governor “We are in anticipation of this upgrade and we know it will happen. I have actually visited the Vice President and the Minister of Aviation. The distinguished senator said that some other governors who have spent their money building airports are coming to see how they can hand it over, but it is the reverse for us.
“We are thinking of how to take over the airport because the model is not to use the state’s funds per se, but to do a public-private partnership, where the state will join up with experts in the field and people with investable money, and we will take over that airport; do all the expansion and see if we can turn it into an international airport. Even if we don’t focus on other places around the world, we can focus on the region.”
The desire to take over the management of the Ibadan airport has sparked debates across the sector with some throwing their weight behind the Oyo State government while others are cautioning against such move in view of the additional economic responsibility it will transfer to the government.
Expressing support for the desired take over, the Managing Director of Aviation Security and a onetime military commandant of the Lagos airport, Group Captain John Ojikutu (retired) described the Oyo State government’s desire as feasible saying he had proposed something similar to former Governor Alao Akala.
“My suggestion to Akala when he was the governor; a copy of my proposal was given to the MD of Odu’a Group that time, who later became the DG of Lagos State Chamber of Commerce. My proposal was for Oyo and Osun states to take the airport over. I had access to Akala then but not to Osun State governor.
“At its present location, it is very feasible direct road link with Oshogbo and Ife in Osun; with the number of high level mobile persons and businesses in these areas including Ibadan, the airport can be upgraded to a cargo airport just as a dry port is being considered for Ibadan. The cargo airport can help take the burden off Lagos airport and Lagos-Ibadan express road for cargoes going up north, to Edo and part of the east.”
For the former president of the National Union of Airport Employees (NUATE), Comrade Abioye, since ownership of airports by state governments in Nigeria is becoming the new vogue, no one can question the governors if they decide to own one or take over one that is virtually abandoned and neglected for political reasons, notwithstanding the fact that some of the said airports were also politically established.
“I am happy that Ibadan airport is receiving deserved recognition by the government. I recall that the government donated an expensive fire vehicle to the airport among many other things. I will be fully supportive of the gesture should the state government takeover upon mutually benefitting conditions. Such conditions shall include exclusive employment of suitably qualified personnel as appropriate to each area requiring such exercise. Another area is provision of necessary safety related infrastructure, which is expensive but purchasable by any serious forward looking government. And given the governors disposition, I have no doubts in my mind that he will make good his words by making Ibadan airport a shining example of State run airports”.
Equally, to Ayo Obilana, a security expert, the idea of taking over the Ibadan airport should not be on the priority list of the state government in view of the additional pressure it may further put on the state.
According to Obilana, because virtually, all the state governors are struggling pay their workers regularly, therefore, for a state government to desire to put additional pressure on the state finance through the management of an airport may be a tall dream.
The spokesperson of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Sam Adurogboye while saying he was not yet aware, however said the decision for any state to be allowed to takeover the management of an airport belonged to the Ministry of Aviation.
As at the time of filing this report, question sent to the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Captain Rabiu Yadudu on the takeover plan was yet to be responded to.
YOU SHOULD NOT MISS THESE HEADLINES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
Buhari Urges MTN For Quality Service, Downward Price Review In Cost Of Data, Other Services
President Muhammadu Buhari Friday at State House Abuja urged the MTN Group to make the available top-of-the-range service to its Nigerian subscribers… Oyo State’s willingness to take over Ibadan airport sparks reaction ; Oyo State’s willingness to take over Ibadan airport sparks reaction ; Oyo State’s willingness to take over Ibadan airport sparks reaction ; Oyo State’s willingness to take over Ibadan airport sparks reaction.
and then