L-R: The Managing Director, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs Olubunmi Kuku, The Chairman of Nigeria Aviation Awards, Fortune Idu and The Osubo Airport Manager, Mr Winston Egwuatu.
A total of 124,000 passengers were processed by the management of the Osubi airport, Warri, Delta state between January and June 2024. Just as 2,051 aircraft movement were recoded during the same period.
Mr Winston Egwuatu, Osubi airport manager who disclosed this at the just concluded Aviation Business Summit and Expo 2024 in Lagos said, passengers traffic has drastically improved since they took over the running of the airport in March 2021.
Revenue generation at the airport between January and June 2024 was N831,37 comprising aeronautic and non-aeronautic sources
Egwuatu, said revenue collection performance stood at N731.39
between January and June this year, while total expenditure for the same period stood at N676.64
Egwuatu noted that Osubi airport, as a Public Private Partnership Venture (PPP) has provided a model as the number one in the nation aviation industry stressing that the airport was not originally built for commercial operations and now carries out commercial activities.
He stressed that there was the need for more infrastructural development and upgrade of the existing ones assuring of the management of Osubi Airport’s ever-ready to facilitate symbiotic relationship.
Egwuatu said in line with FAAN core values, which are safety, security and comfort, the Osubi airport management has provided an enabling environment for businesses to thrive such with the provision of 250kva static ups inverter which provides regular power supply when no primary and secondary power sources
“A fuel dump for reserve, incase of scarcity in the market. And a solar powered street light for night business,
construction of police station to boost investor confidence on the area of security and provision of additional perimeter fencing to guarantee a secure business environment”
On investment in Osubi airport, Egwuatu revealed that large expanse of land of about 10,764,900 square meters is available for
establishment of various businesses with availability of operating space for more airlines
According to him, Airpeace and arik air both operate daily flights to Lagos and abuja, while Green Africa, overland and united Nigeria airlines have all indicated to resume operations soon “There is room to accommodate more airlines that wish to operate and do business from Osubi (Aeronautical aspect)”
On- going extension of terminal one the airport manager said it will provide space for a VIP lounge, a retail shop and space for restaurant adding that planned upgrade by the federal government will involve runway extension, apron expansion, construction of new terminal building, fire station and a general upgrade of the airport facilities.
According to Mr Egwuatu the cordial relationship between the airport management and the host community has led to the development and progress in the airport community
making the Airport as one of the best maintained airports in Nigeria with massive turnaround since FAAN took over the operatorship of the Airport in 2021.
The airport manager won the last Nigeria aviation awards as the best airport manager in Nigeria for 2023.