Okpella community in Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State is poised for war with the State Government over alleged relocation of the proposed airport project in Edo North Senatorial district of the state.

The community spokesman, Chief Richard David, in a press conference on Sunday, stated that there was already a plan by BUA and Dangote to build an aerodrome in the area, calling on the state government to support the project instead of getting approval for another airport in Etsako West.

David stated that BUA and Dangote were planning to build the aerodrome in Okpella because of their huge investment in the area which has propelled development in the community

The community also expressed surprise that a letter from the Federal Mjinistry of Aviation dated 16/12/2021 with reference number FMA/ADD/402/5.42/C.9/12 conveying approval for an airport project, wrongly mentioned Okpella as being part of Etsako West Local Government Area.

He said they had expected something to be done to correct the anomalies by the FMA but unfortunately nothing was done.

He lamented that despite the immense contribution of Okpella to the economic sustenance of Edo, the community remains the most marginalized in infrastructural consideration.

He said, “It was a thing of joy to the people when the BUA group hinted that it had started the process of setting up an aerodrome in Okpella for which appropriate modalities of location of suitable site, soil tests and payment of compensation to crop owners had been completed.

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“We had expected the government to back this process instead of initiating a fresh move for another airport and erroneously mentioning Okpella as the site.

“We had also expected that the government will commit resources to set up auxiliary infrastructure like access road to and fro the aerodrome, supply of water, improved power supply and others.

“To our surprise, a letter from the federal ministry of Aviation dated 16/12/2021 with reference number FMA/ADD/402/5.42/C.9/12 conveying approval for an airport project, wrongly mentioned Okpella as being part of Etsako West Local Government Area.

“We had expected something to be done to correct this but nothing was done. This action of the FMA, the silence of the Etsako East Council and the body language of the State Government have angered our youths and generality of the community.

“We are sure that the same investors trying to build the airstrip will be used to source for funds for this proposed airport by the state government. But we demand that the investors be allowed to continue with the ongoing project in Okpella.

“We have been appealing to and pacifying our youths, who have been visibly restive and suspicious of government action on this project.

“But if the project is stopped and taken to another place, we cannot quaranteed the peaceful coexistence between the investors and the community unless Okpella ceases to be their host community.”