ODAHIEKWU OGUNDE, Yenagoa
Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the Bayelsa State International Airport will commence commercial flights before the end of March.
It was learnt that the airport, which will serve cargo and commercial flights, will be licensed to begin full commercial operations by the relevant federal aviation regulatory authorities before the end of this month.
The public has been expressing concern why the airport, said to have been fully ready since last year, is yet to take off.
But the state Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, disclosed during a meeting with the management and staff of the airport together with its host communities in Government House, Yenagoa.
He said that the state was expecting a visit from the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) on March 23, adding that the visit might culminate in the certification of commercial flight operations in the airport.
Ewhrudjakpo, therefore, called on all stakeholders to make last ditch efforts towards getting the Federal Government’s operational licence.
Highlighting the importance of the airport, he appealed to the host communities to be patient, assuring them that the present administration was poised to address their concerns according to extant best practices in the aviation industry.
Making reference to how airports within and outside the country have transformed the economy of their operating environments, the Deputy Governor urged all the stakeholders to have a bigger picture as expected benefits from the airport were beyond immediate financial gains.
Ewhrudjakpo, meanwhile, cautioned them to employ dialogue as a means of resolving any pending issues, stressing that protests and disruption of activities around the airport would only delay its licensing.
He stated: “This is no time for protest. It is rather a time for more cooperation and hard work for us to achieve what we need to get our airport operating fully. If the government is still owing you any money as balance for compensation, that should not make you demonstrate.
“We are appealing to you because by the time the airport starts operating, you all know the benefits you will all get as workers, landlords and host communities. Government will look into your demands and take appropriate steps to address them.
“We must look at and focus on the bigger picture because sometimes if you don’t focus on the bigger picture, you continue to cry because of the immediate sparrow.
“The tears in your eyes will deprive you from seeing the stars. The stars are always there, but (most times), it is because of the tears in our eyes that make us not see the stars.
“However, the good news is that, officials of the NCAA are coming on March 23 and by the grace of God when they come on that day, and before they leave on March 25th, we are expecting that they will kindly give us our licence.”
In their remarks, some members of the state House of Assembly, Mrs. Ebiuwou-Koku Obiyai, Mr. Wisdom Fafi, Mr. Oforji Oboku and Mr. Felix Bonny-Ayah, all appealed to the landlords to be patient with government as regards the issues of compensation and employment.
Speaking on behalf of the landlords, the Amananaowei of Amassoma, Chief Graham Naingba, spokesman for the Airport Landlords Forum, Mr Yenigha Ebimode, among others, assured the state government of their cooperation to enable the airport to begin full operations.