Open Letter To Okowa: Now That The Osubi-Warri Airstrip Is Operational, What Next?

His Excellency,

P.M.B. 5001, Asaba

Dear Sir,

NOW THAT THE OSUBI-WARRI AIRSTRIP IS OPERATIONAL, WHAT NEXT?

The Expansion/Upgrade Project of the Osubi-Warri Airstrip to a Standard International Airport that accommodates bigger aircrafts, should be the focus of every well-meaning stakeholder…
When I got news that the Osubi-Warri Airstrip has resumed operational flights with the landing of Air Peace aircraft on Friday 9th July, 2021, I considered it as a welcome development but with a mixed reaction.

While it was reported that the Delta State House of Assembly Speaker, Oborevwori, Esiovwa, Okpe Council boss, Orodje of Okpe, Ovie of Uvwie, and others were on ground to witness what they described as a heart-warming event, however, many of us consider bringing our Kings and Chiefs to witness the landing of a small Air peace aircraft as the Osubi-Warri Airstrip resumed operations, was rather uncalled for and unnecessary.

To say that I am highly disheartened that some of these notable Traditional rulers and chiefs invited to witness the landing of Air Peace small aircraft on the said 9th July 2021, is to put it mildly. Apparently to them, it is an achievement. Unnecessary excitement is indeed the biggest headache of our people.

The question they should ask is: Does the re-opening of the Airstrip call for such a celebrated ceremony of any kind? Of course, no! What was re-opened for operations, is still the old Osubi-Warri Airstrip, which was built by Shell (SPDC) years ago. If I were the notable kings and Chiefs and public office holders that were present, I will deliberately shun, and refuse to be part of the said re-opening operations of the Airstrip with the landing of a small Air peace aircraft.

What I have been asking for years, which every well-meaning stakeholder should equally be asking for right now, is for the execution of the planned little expansion/upgrade of the Osubi-Warri Airstrip to make it a standard International Airport, which can accommodate bigger aircrafts to land at, and take off from its tarmac.

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I expect that the stated notable Traditional rulers and political leaders should join me to demand for the little expansion/upgrade of the tarmac/runway of the Osubi-Warri Airstrip to that of a standard International Airport.

I was told that 20 metres expansion on both sides of the Airstrip tarmac, would have made it a standard size to accommodate bigger aircrafts of all kinds. In his response on this issue, Austin Gari Uwedjojevwe noted that: “We have gradually achieved the title of Keke (commercial tricycle) headquarters of the world for Warri… It will take only a 100m of additional runway for Osubi to accommodate a Boeing 737, and another additional 50m to accommodate a jumbo. Sometimes I wonder about what has happened to our being focused…”

The good thing about all of this is that the land is available there for the said expansion/upgrade of the Osubi-Warri Airstrip to a standard International Airport.

I believe, it is only after the requested expansion/upgrade of the Osubi-Warri Airstrip to a standard International Airport, have been actualized, that our Traditional rulers, Chiefs, Public Office holders and the public, can then come forward in their regalia and drums for the official re-opening of the then New Osubi-Warri International Airport. And not what they are doing now with just the landing of a small Air Peace aircraft only.

I therefore reiterate that, with the resumption of operational flights to/fro the Osubi-Warri Airstrip, the next line of action is that the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Delta State Government should do the needful, for the planned expansion/upgrade of the Osubi-Warri Airstrip tarmac/runway to a standard International Airport to accommodate bigger commercial flights for air passengers.

So, while we appreciate the resumption of flight operations at the Osubi-Warri Airstrip, let us continue the push for its expansion/upgrade. It is only when this is done, that it will be worth all the celebrations.

Zik Gbemre.

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