IBADAN AIRPORT UPGRADE
THE BENEFITS OF SYNERGY BETWEEN DIFFERENT ARMS OF GOVERNMENT- FEMI LADAPO
When the first motion sponsored by Senator Kola Balogun in 2019 on the floor of the Senate was for an upgrade of the Ibadan Airport to international standard, it looked like a far cry. His consistency in using all he has both in the Senate and personally is making the dream coming closer to reality.
However the dream experienced a setback whem The aviation authorities came to inspect the Alakia Airport to determine how COVID-19 compliant the airport was during which the airport was downgrased from level six to five.
As at that time the airport had one functioning fire hydrant instead of two. The governor volunteered to procure a new one for the airport, and even collected the required specifications from the airport authority. Governoer Seyi Makinde bought the second Fire Hydrant for the Airport. Despite this commendable effort nothing was done up to three months. After several futile efforts to get the Nigeria AviationAuthority (NAA) to review their report and upgrade the airport back to its original level 6 position Senator Balogun had to personally visit the Nigeria Aviation Authority (NAA) office and extracted a promise to act within 24 hours. Within 48 hours after his visit, NAA acted on the pressure from Senator Balogun.
The airport was upgraded to the original status. By this time however, only Overland airplanes were flying Ibadan and they hiked air fares to high heavens.
Concerned about the economic and social impact of this, the Senator pushed on.
He spoke with a Senator from Akwa Ibom to speak with her governor to give Ibadan an aircraft to ply Ibadan. While Senator Balogun was doing this, the Governor of Oyo State was in contact with the Governor of Akwa Ibom State on the same issue. Unfortunately by that time the two new aircrafts which were newly acquired by Ibom Airlines had been assigned to other routes.
Not one to give up on a project until it is done, Senator Balogun made inquiries and found out about Air Peace.
He approached the CEO of Air Peace. He got a promise that one of their fleet will start flights in Ibadan shortly. When nothing had happened by end of May, he got back to the Air Peace CEO who explained the aircrafts were on routine maintenance and that Ibadan flights will commence in August.
While the Senator was doing this, Governor Seyi Makinde was in touch with the Minister of Aviation and the Vice President on the same matter. The synergy is helping on both sides.
Not relenting on his efforts to ensure that Ibadan Airport is upgraded to International Standard, Senator Balogun visited the then acting Chairman of the Senate Committee on aviation, Sen. Nahala from Kebbi State to solicit for his support. Incidentally, he was in a meeting with the Ministry of Aviation senior officials. He agreed and openly spoke about a more compelling technical reason why Ibadan Airport should be upgraded. Senator Nahala is a major player in Aviation Industry. The safety implications were also mentioned.
When Senator Smart Adeyemi took over as the substantive Chairman of the Senate Committee on Aviation, the lobby continued. The good thing about these efforts by Governor Seyi Makinde and Senator Balogun is that they were comparing notes and sharing ideas at every inch of the way. This is why those who were close to the two gentlemen were shocked but not surprised when the media platform of the opposition APC were swift at ascribing the coming of the Airpeace to one of their Senators in Oyo State rather than the governor of Oyo State and the hard workingSenator representing Oyo South Senatorial District in the Red Chamber.
In furtherance to his efforts, Senator Balogun facilitated the visit of the Aviation committees of both houses of the National Assembly to see the Ibadan Airport first hand and meet with the Governor who is also firmly committed to achieving the upgrade of Ibadan Airport to International standard and more.
The Governor in his response went a rather gladdeningly ambitious level higher by expresssing his desire for Oyo State to take over the airport, turn it around and make it a World Class International Airport. By going into a strategic partnership with the private sector, as is done in other parts of the civilised economies, monumental transformation of the airport can be achieved.
This commendable step if achieved will help in economic, infrasructural and social development of not only Ibadan but the whole of Oyo State.
With an Ibadan Airport owned by Oyo State, the pace setter state will be the first to achieve that in the South West and be at par with oil producing states who have airports. With this intention of Governor Makinde, one can also envision a future where Oyo State has her own fleet of aircrafts.
Senator Smart Adeyemi who led the lawmakers assured he will support Senator Balogun in his efforts. This synergized action of the Governor and the Senator representing Oyo South puts in good stead the chances of success in the National Assembly for budgetary allocation for the upgrade of the Airport to international standard
With the success so far recorded due to the efforts of Senator Balogun and support of Governor Seyi Makinde, there is a very important part left for the project to be completed.
BUDGETARY PROVISION.
All hands must be on deck to ensure the upgrade of Ibadan Airport to International standard is provided for in the next budget. Senator Kola Balogun is enjoined to use all the link and connection he has in the National Assembly to make this dream come true.
The Senator and the Governor should rest assured their names will be written in gold by posterity when International flights start in Ibadan Airport owned by Oyo State.
They have done well so far but should keep at it until the desired is achieved.
The story of Ibadan Airport is exemplary of how much can be achieved by working together between Senators and Governors instead of engaging in unhealthy rivalries. If they had worked independently, this much is unlikely to be achieved.
This also applies to all Legislators and their Executive counterparts. National Assembly and State Assembly Members versus their Executive counterparts, Governors, Ministers and Local Government Chairmen. The interest of all should galvanize them to work together.
Its working for us on the Ibadan Airport Upgrade.
Again we are setting the pace in Oyo for others to copy.
One example of different arms of governent working together for the good of the electorate.