BY Kayode Araba
Thus, the Nigerian Senate has urged the Ministry of Aviation and the Nigeria Air Force to take over and convert the deserted and uncultivable wasteland of the abandoned Shell Airstrip at Oloibiri oil well one to a modern Air Force Base in Bayelsa.
However, this was expanded the more while speaking with the new men on Tuesday that a resolution was sequel to a motion brought to the floor by the Senator representing Bayelsa East, Senator Benson Agadaga.
Senator Agadaga, said in his lead debate, recalled that the Shell Airstrip, constructed in 1958 following the first discovery of crude oil in 1956 and sitting on over 25 hectares of land situated at Itokopiri bush which is hosting the famous Oloibiri Oil well 1 in Otuogidi Community, has long been abandoned.
Therefore, that senator in their contributions to the debate, regretted 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 desolation.
He further stated that president of the Senate, Godswil Akpabio while ruling on the resolutions expressed the hope that upgrading the abandoned Airstrip to an Air Force Base will bring renewed hope to the people.
Moreso, he further alluded to the fact that the Senate however resolved that all oil companies in Nigeria should contribute funds towards the upgrade of the abandoned airstrip.
