FG Approves Planned Airport by Edo State Government at Uzairue

Chinedu Eze

The federal government has given approval to the request by Edo State Government to build airport at Uzairue/Okpella in Etsako West Local Governemnt Area of the state.

Approval was conveyed in a letter from the Federal Ministry of Aviation to the Governor of the State, Godwin Obaseki dated December 16, 2021.

The letter, which was signed by the acting Director, Aerodrome Development, Awogbami C. O., was in response to the earlier application made by the state government seeking approval for the airport project.

The Federal Ministry of Aviation in its approval stated thus; “Sequel to the receipt of your Excellency’s letter, Ref. No: OG.51/Vol.4/120 dated 16th February, 2021 and subsequent visit of the technical team from the Ministry and its agencies on the 3rd to 5th of November, 2021, I am directed to convey approval of the Honourable Minister for the construction of an airport at Uzairue/Okpella in Etsako West Local Government Area, Edo State.”

The letter stated the conditions, which must be met by the Edo state government to build a second airport in the state.

These conditions include: strict compliance with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority’s (NCAA) requirements; compliances with all relevant environmental regulations and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report should be conducted to assess the impact of noise on the settlement.

Other requirements include: adherence to the provision of the subsisting Civil Aviation Act 2006, and other legislations that may evolve with time; payment of all statutory fees; issuance of security clearance by Department of State Services (DSS) and site survey data in accordance with WGS 84 (World Geodetic Survey 1984) specification.

The Ministry also required the perimeter survey of the airport, production of Wind Rose Analysis by the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMET); the removal of all obstruction on the site and involvement of the Ministry and its relevant agencies at every stage of the development of the airport to ensure compliance with Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs).

The Ministry also informed the Edo state government that it would forward a copy of the letter to NCAA and “your Excellency is to liaise further with the agency for implementation.”