The Nigerian Senate has urged the federal government to take over and convert the deserted and waste land of the abandoned Shell Airstrip at Oloibiri oil well 1, Otuogidi, to a modern Airforce Base.
Similarly, the upper legislative chamber called on Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC) and other Oil Companies, Nigeria National Petroleum Company (NNPCL) as well as Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to join in the development of the abandoned airstrip.
This followed a motion on Thursday titled: ‘urgent need for transformation of the abandoned shell airstrip at Oloibiri oil well 1 in Bayelsa state to an airforce base’, sponsored by Senator Sunday Agadaga.
The lawmaker noted that the Shell Airstrip Constructed in 1958 following the first discovery of crude oil in 1956, sitting on over 25 hecters of land situated at Itokopiri bush hosting the famous Oloibiri Oil well 1 in Otuogidi Community has long been abandoned.
Agadaga bemoaned that since the gradual decline of Shell’s operations in the area and final departure from Oloibiri oil field, the Airstrip and the land where it operated have been abandoned and left desolate.
“The land itself appears to have been sentenced to perpetual condemnation as no agricultural activity which is the economic mainstay of the local dwellers can be carried out anymore due to the
concretized topography of the soil” he said.
Justifying the motion, Agadaga argued that upgrading the abandoned Airstrip to an Airforce Base will bring renewed hope to the people, restore life to the area and attract benefits to the country.
Meanwhile, others senators who spoke during the debate threw their weight behind the motion.
