Monarch orders subjects to desist from planting crops that attract birds near Murtala Muhammed Airport
| The traditional rular of Shasha Kingdom in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State,His Royal Majesty,Oba Babatunde Akanbi Nasiru Ogunronbi,Ariwajoye Akinlowo 1,whose communities share boundaries with the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos has been working quietly in his domain to avert aviation disaster.He has taking many steps including sesitisation to enlighten his people living near the Airport and how the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has been relating with him. He spoke with our correspondent at his palace in Shasha recently. How have you contributed to aviation safety: I have given an order banning farming of birds attracting crops near the Murtala Muhammed International Airport within withing my kingdom. Crops such as maze and other flowering plants are not good for airport environment. You mean they just listened to you and started implementing your order immediately: No.It took me a very long time to educate them on the danger inherent if birds flock together around the airport. Most of them initially misconstrued my directive They see me as a wicked King who was out to make their life miserable with subterranean motive of dispossessing them of their land for my personal use. ”I made frantic efforts to talk to them that no one is saying that they should not farm outside the perimeter fence but should not cultivate plants that will make birds converge in the area.” “During one of my meetings with them,I told them that if a small bird enters the engine of an aircraft in flight,it can crash the airplane no matter the size of the aircraft.” I have read and heard that bird strike had damaged aircraft engines worth millions of dollar.”This has brought many airlines to their knees with attendance job lose” Your Royal Highness,you are not an aviator,how do you know birds flying inside airports are threat to flight safety: I read publications on aviation.I take time to study the annexes of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and also talk with experts in aviation.The Airport is close to me.I should not be totally ignorant about what happened in that sector. Why are you bothered,you do not fly: “If I say because am not flying, what about my children,friends relatives and human beings generally.? If I should close my eyes to what can constitute danger to flight safety in an airport that is sited near my domain, my Obaship should be called to question.” “Do you know how many family that will suffer if one airline shutdown operations completely today in this country? I will never knowingly or an accessory to air disaster.” “Today the story is different. No one tampers with their land,they cultivate any type of crop except the ones I asked them not to because of the danger they pose to aviation.I know it is from the produce of the farm they rely on for feeding and also sell parts of it to settle their children’s school fees. Which other area have you contributed to the security of the Airport: ”Before I was crown,I heard there were incursions into the Airport by some unscrupulous people who do not live in Shasha,with the connivance of some airport workers.During one of the stakeholders meetings I attended, conveyed by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN),”I told them to warn their staff against nasty behaviour.” “I told FAAN that nobody can jump from the Airport to Shasha without the knowledge of security personnel at the airport.It is the rat that is inside the house that licks the secrets of the home to the ones outside.” “Besides the security outfits set up by different streets in Shasha,that also guard the Shasha end of the Airport fence,I personally go out at odd hours to inspect the area.I do not want second hand information that may not be completely reflect the actual situation. I am not an Oba that sits down in one place.I move round to verify any information that I receive especially when it bothers on security.” Oba Ogunronbi showered encomium on the out gone Regional General Manager of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos,Mrs.Victoria Shin-Aba who incorporated Shasha as part of the Airport communities. Prior to her coming”,I have been paying toll fee at the Airport Toll Gate.She gave me Sticker that exempts me from paying.Whoever that is going to take over from her should build on the strong,healthy existing relationship between the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria and Shasha communities.” ” I want to appealed to FAAN management to consider offering employment to my people.”There are able bodied young men and women that possess good academic qualifications in all fields of knowledge.” |
