The Nigeria Airspace Management Agency, NAMA has restored air traffic services to the Osubi Airport, Warri following the payment of N31million as debts owes it by the operator of the airstrip.
In a statement,Spokesman for NAMA, Mr. Khalid Emele said the N31 million being part of the payment of accumulated charges of what is owed the NAMA, the Management decided to yet to appeals from well-meaning stakeholders and in consideration of the overall interest of the air travel public.
He noted that the payment leaves Shoreline Oil Services operator of the airstrip with a debt balance of N566, 422, 000.50 as of today, the 28th October, 2018.
According to him, NAMA took the difficult decision to withdraw air traffic services to Osubi airstrip after Shoreline Oil Services persistently refused to honour financial obligation to us despite several entreaties.
NAMA therefore has urged Shoreline Oil Services to take full advantage of the window of opportunity to make additional payment that will substantially defray the N566, 422, 000.50 debt as well as agree on a concrete and workable payment plan that will clear the outstanding balance.
“As a responsible corporate citizen and provider of critical services to the nation’s civil aviation sector, we felt obliged to restore our services to the airstrip with the understanding that
It is our hope that going forward, and in the spirit of the renewed understanding between both organizations, Shoreline will reciprocate this gesture by paying for our services as and when due”
NAMA denied ever shutting down the airstrip, “We would also like to clear the misconception being bandied about that the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) was responsible for “shutting down” Osubi airstrip”.
“Nothing could be further from the truth as we do not have such statutory or physical powers. We merely withdrew air traffic services to the airstrip but we did not shut it down, he added.
“Finally, we would like to reassure all our service users, stakeholders and the general public that NAMA remains committed to its goal of providing seamless air traffic services in a safe, economic and efficient manner”.
