Oil Company Airstrips Run Afoul Of Abuja

Oil companies, including multinational players, are operating nearly 200 illegal airstrips in Nigeria, the Federal Government says, and some of them are used for illegal purposes.

The story got wide play in Nigerian newspapers this morning, but only one - the New Age daily, gave p[rominent coverage to the fact that they were operated by the country's petroleum Establishment.

Here is the relevant part of the story:

Oil firms operate 200 illegal air strips — Yuguda
Mobil 76, Shell 68, Chevron 25, Agip 13, Total 10

ABUJA -- The Federal Executive Council yesterday in Abuja approved a memorandum seeking to regulate the operation of private airstrips in the country with regard to the payment of fees by users and full security against economic sabotage. Minister of Aviation, Isa Yuguda told State House correspondents that oil companies own most of the illegal airstrips - numbering about 200.

According to him, these include Chevron with about twenty-five (25) airstrips; Shell Petroleum Development Company (68); Mobil Producing Unlimited (76); Total (10); Agip (13) and Conoil (1), adding that the operation of these airstrips “has meant that they are using the airspace illegally, and have not been paying fees as they are expected to do."

Further, Yuguda said the government discovered that some of the airstrips are used for smuggling, gun running and other forms of economic sabotage against the country.

The minister said also that approval had been given for the installation of flight landing equipment at the Akanu Ibiam Airport, Enugu at the cost of N241 million.

The project makes it 18 out of the 22 airports in the country which would be rehabilitated under a programme meant to upgrade airport facilities in the country.

The minister acknowledged that the Enugu Airport was one of the airports with serious deterioration in facilities, saying other equipments would be provided for its upgrading.

The oil companies apparently were not contacted for a response.