The Chairmen, Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Aviation, Sen. Smart Adeyemi and Rep. Nnolim Nnaji, on Thursday, inspected the Ibadan airport in Oyo State, NAN reports
Speaking with newsmen at the end of the inspection, Adeyemi said the aviation industry was key to the socio-economic development of the country
The senate aviation committee chairman noted that there was a need for improvement at the airport, based on what the joint committees saw.
He added that there was a need for more budgetary provision to meet some challenges seen, observing that the Ibadan airport was porous.
Adeyemi said the porosity posed danger to the safety of flights coming to the airport.
He noted that there was not enough facility to monitor the entire airport “which is a big risk especially when you have aircraft coming at night and there is no proper security in place to guaranty safety of the aircraft and passengers.”
“We equally observed that there is a need for extension of the runway to meet up with international standards; again, the runway needs attention.
So, our coming here today, is an eye-opener to some of the situations that require urgent attention.
“As legislatures, our duty is to call the attention of the executive to areas where they need to provide funding on one hand and to make sure that we allow the executive to see those areas.
“And when they come for budget defence, we will be speaking to them on point of knowledge of what we have seen, we will not be guessing but will tell them what we have seen here which requires attention by way of fund being made available.
“And where this fund is not made available; as legislature, before the budget is passed, we make sure that we provide funding for specific areas that we have seen that demand attention,” he said.
Adeyemi commended the Oyo State Government for its concern and efforts in providing some of the facilities such as fire service equipment needed at the airport.
He stressed that no one could over-emphasise the importance of having a very effective fire service in place in an airport.
He, however, urged other state governments to emulate Oyo state by working in conjunction with the Federal Government’s efforts.
