Elder statesman and rights advocate, Mr. Zik Gbemre, has congratulated the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, on his recognition at the Nigerian Excellence Awards in Public Service (NEAPS), but says the honour rings hollow without action on the long-awaited expansion of the Osubi Airport Runway in Delta State.
Keyamo received the award for excellence in aviation sector reforms on Sunday, December 7, 2025, at the State House, Abuja.
The award was presented on behalf of President Bola Tinubu by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume.
In a statement on Tuesday, Gbemre said that while he does not begrudge the minister’s national recognition, the unresolved infrastructural concerns at the Osubi Airport raise serious questions about the substance of the award.
“If Keyamo truly merits this honour, why has the Osubi Airstrip Runway he promised to expand since assuming office remained untouched?” Gbemre queried.
He lamented that passengers from Okpe, Uvwie, Udu, Ughelli South, Ughelli North, Ethiope East, Warri South, Warri South West, Burutu, Bomadi, Patani and Isoko South now endure long trips to Benin and Asaba airports to board flights to Lagos and Abuja, an inconvenience he described as avoidable.
According to him, the runway expansion and upgrade are long overdue and should be a priority for a minister whose hometown, Effurun, sits just minutes away from the facility.
“Minister Keyamo, what is the problem? Why is Osubi Airstrip not getting the attention it deserves?” he asked.
He further challenged the Minister to “Do whatever you can to upgrade and expand the runway so that bigger aircraft can land and take off. The people have waited long enough.”
Gbemre insisted that delivering the long-promised upgrade would be a more meaningful testament to Keyamo’s leadership than any award.
“Congratulations on your NEAPS award, but I am not impressed,” he added.
