- Stakeholders accuse governor of nepotism in handling project
- Adeleke defends relocation, blames technical issues, inadequate runway
- How past four governors failed on 80-year-old project despite over N20bn expenses
There is disquiet in Osun State following the Federal Government’s suspension of the relocation of the Osun State International Airport project from Ido-Osun to Akoda, Ede.
Governor Adeleke had relocated the airport to his Ede hometown amid widespread protests and criticism from residents and other stakeholders.
His administration had claimed that technical issues, especially inadequate runway, forced it to relocate the state airport project.
While justifying the relocation decision, a member of the airport project technical committee, Lai Oriowo, said the decision was based both on viability and technicalities rather than politics.
Oriowo said, “The total area of the site was approximately estimated to be 3,871,806.34square metres (387.18 Ha). The existing runway which is 1.67km did not meet the required standard. The minimum runway for a standard airport is 4.8km. The runway length required for class 4E Aircraft is 3600 x 45m and additional minimum distance of 750 metres on both approaches for Runway End Safety Area/Clearway for instrument runway is 5,100m against the available dimension of 3,250m.
“Citing the runway at this site (Old Aerodrome Site) therefore, will require relocation of Adeleke Secondary School and also the displacement of some settlements at the other end of the site.
“The existing culvert of 65 metres transversely located at different sections of the running route and open/fabricated drainage already constructed are not ideal for an Airport. The required length of culvert across the runway should be 150m against 65m to cover both runway width and its strip.
“The uncompleted terminal building, control tower building, and fire and rescue buildings, are wrongly located with reference to the runway; Access to the Airport is limited to only Osogbo – Ede Road.”
He, however, disclosed that the existing airport at Ido-Osun, which is now under the control of the Nigerian Air Force, would serve both as training school and alternate airport in line with the existing Memorandum of Understanding between the State Government and Air Force.
Despite clarifications by the state government, residents and indigenes of Ido-Osun in Egbedore local government area of Osun State, where the airport was initially sited have been protesting, accusing the governor of allowing nepotism to guide his decision of relocating the project, rather than for the public good.
Another group of protesters under the aegis of the Ido-Osun Youth Forum, had rejected the explanations offered by the government that the current site of the airport was no longer good enough, due to encroachment by people who erected structures on the land for the project.
Speaking for the protesters, a former member representing Egbedore State Constituency, Abiodun Awolola, held that relocating the airport from Ido-Osun to Ede, which is the governor’s hometown, is nepotism.
He said, “Ido-Osun Airport has been in existence since 1936 before it was abandoned and then successive governments of President Olusegun Obasanjo, Governors Bisi Akande, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Rauf Aregbesola and Gboyega Oyetola have all at their time made a very effective commitment in ensuring the airport comes to life.
“Over N20 billion have been expended on the Ido-Osun Airport by the past governments. Abandoning it to start a fresh project in the governor’s hometown, Ede will only paint the current government as nepotistic and amount to a waste of resources because the governor will have to dip hands into the coffers of the state for the fresh project.
“The airport which houses Nigerian Air Force Research and Development Center and the Aviation City, which is designed to serve civil, military and cargo aviation needs, as well as AI drones manufacturing hub, would have made drastic progress under governor Ademola Adeleke, rather than bury the age-long historic airport to start a new one in his hometown, Ede.”
Unperturbed, Governor Adeleke announced that the foundation-laying ceremony for the new airport in Ede would be held on December 16, 2024.
The event was to feature key dignitaries, including Ministers of Works and Aviation, David Umahi and Festus Keyamo, respectively.
To this end, Awolola urged President Bola Tinubu to prevail on Adeleke to shelve the planned relocation of the airport.
He also implored Ministers of Works and Aviation; David Umahi and Festus Keyamo, invited to the turning of sod ceremony at the new site of the project, to shun the invite.
Similarly, an opposition party in the state, the Allied Peoples Movement, opposed the planned relocation of the airport to Ede.
The APM chairman, Adewale Adebayo, condemned the governor’s decision, saying, “To relocate such a critical project to the governor’s hometown reeks of political favouritism and disregards the resources and efforts already committed to the Ido-Osun site.
“Osun State cannot afford to waste N20 billion public funds, especially during these challenging economic times. The relocation of the airport project undermines the principle of fairness and transparency, as it appears to prioritize personal interests over the collective good of the people of Osun State.”
Apparently heeding to the call by protesters and other critics over the planned relocation, the Federal Government, in a letter dated December 6, 2024, signed by the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace, Emmanuel D. Meribole, and addressed to Governor Adeleke, directed the state government to suspend the project indefinitely.
The letter stated, “Re: Invitation as a Special Guest of Honour at the Foundation Laying Ceremony of the Osun State International Airport. I wish to refer to your letter Ref. No. 5.12/19/1/Vol.VI/188 dated 21st November 2024 on the above subject and to respectfully request Your Excellency to suspend the foundation laying ceremony of the Osun State International Airport until the issues regarding the petitions over the existing airstrip/airport are resolved and to harmonize the state’s efforts with that of the federal government.”
“Your Excellency may wish to note that the airstrip is a federal project that is captured in the Ministry’s 2024 Appropriation. We also note that you have made arrangements to expand the airstrip to an international airport. In addition, there is a petition indicating there is an existing airstrip where funds have been expended and the need to use the site for the present airstrip instead of a new site.
“The Federal Government is mandated to ensure judicious use of funds to curtail wastage of resources. As this Airstrip Project is a collaboration between state and Federal Governments, we must be in sync before the project takes off.
“Accordingly, Your Excellency is respectfully requested to reschedule the foundation laying ceremony of the Osun State Airport pending the resolution of the petitions and selection of a mutually agreed date. Please, accept the assurances of the Honourable Minister’s highest regards.”
At least four past governors of Osun State had made efforts to put the airport to work, but they all failed.
The former governors are Bisi Akande, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Rauf Aregbesola, and Gboyega Oyetola.
Reports revealed that nothing less than N20 billion had already been invested in the contentious project.
The origin of Ido-Osun Airport, also known as MKO Abiola International Airport, which gulped about 839 hectares of the land in Egbedore Local Government Area of the state, dates back to World War II when the site was used as an airstrip by the West African Frontiers Force.
They discovered that Ido-Osun had the highest flat top plateau in British West Africa, making it the most suitable ground for their needs.
The British Empire, led by Governor-General Bernard Bourdillon, acquired the land and built the airstrip. Initially envisioned as a hub for aircraft maintenance and repair, it was gathered that the site of the airport was acquired in 1933 and compensation was paid to the then owners of the land.
Over time, however, the purpose of the airport shifted towards commercial use. The plan was to build a five-star hotel, recreational facilities, and entertainment centers around the airport, the first of its kind in West Africa.
Former Osun State Governor, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, attempted to build a modern airport in Ido-Osun, utilising the existing airstrip’s land. He acquired additional land for the project; however, the project could not be completed due to the expiration of his administration.
During Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s administration, the contract was first awarded to Aeronautics Engineering at the cost of N4.5 billion in October 2012.
The N4.5 billion airport project includes a 3000m runway, a dedicated passenger terminal and air traffic control tower. Sometime later, it was revised to N11 billion to accommodate more features. Of this amount, the state government noted that it had spent N3.6 billion. Thereafter, the project was abandoned mid-way, prompting the need for a re-award.
In October 2017, the state government revived its intention to continue the project but due to financial constraints, the Aregbesola administration opted for a concession arrangement.
Later, a 30 year concession agreement was signed with AWOL International Limited to complete the N69 million ($191,401) project. However, the company was to work with two partner companies named Biray Group, for the technical aspect, and Exim Bank of Turkey, where funds for the project were to be obtained.
In the new agreement, AWOL was to build an airport with cargo and hangar as the first of its kind in West Africa and third in Africa after South Africa and Egypt.
The runway was also expanded from the initial 3.0 kilometres to 3.5 kilometres. The airport was expected to have an ultramodern commercial complex, terminal buildings, control tower, standard civil infrastructure, maintenance building and power house, staff training centre, fire-fighting station, security infrastructure, apron and taxiways and dual-carriage-road leading from Osogbo, the state capital, to the airport, among several other catchy attractions.
But the hope of the community where the airport was to be situated was dashed when Aregbesola announced the concession had failed.
Gboyega Oyetola’s administration sought federal support for the Osun airport project.
In December 2020, Governor Oyetola visited the former Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, to appeal for federal support for the project.
Oyetola later handed over the official documents of the runway and airport corridor to the Nigerian Air force.
He said the state government had partnered with the Nigerian Air Force to build an aviation city, which would provide civil and military air flight operations in the state.
Stakeholders are worried that the Federal Government’s halting of the relocation plan and controversies surrounding it may further frustrate the expected completion of the over 80 years old project.