Festus Keyamo, minister of aviation and aerospace
development, has asked Ademola Adeleke, governor of Osun, to suspend the
foundation-laying ceremony of the state international airport as controversy
continues to swirl around the relocation of the project to a new site.
Adeleke had inaugurated an inter-ministerial committee to
revive the abandoned airport in 2023.
The governor said his administration discontinued the MKO
Abiola international airport in Ido-Osun and relocated it to Ede — his hometown
— because the old site was unsuitable for a full-fledged airport.
But the proposed relocation riled Ido-Osun locals who have
determined to oppose the move.
On November 26, the community staged a protest, condemning
the relocation plans as “nepotistic and undemocratic”.
In a petition to Keyamo, dated November 29, the Ido-Osun
Youth Forum said it is unacceptable that the state government would consider
moving the airport to Ede, “where a new airport would be less than 10 minutes
away from the current location in Ido-Osun”.
The group said it is alarming that the government is pushing
the agenda “without reasonable cause”.
“These actions are a misuse of public funds and a waste of
taxpayers’ money, giving consideration to the fact that Ido-Osun already has
the largest flat runway in Nigeria, which has been capable of handling various
aviation needs,” the petition reads.
“Governor Ademola Adeleke’s decision to relocate the airport
to his home town of Ede is not only politically driven but also economically
wasteful.
“The Ido-Osun airport, with its established infrastructure
and strategic position, holds far greater potential for the development of the
State.
“Rather than investing in the unnecessary construction of a
new airport in Ede, which would entail duplicating resources and creating
Inefficiencies, we urge your office to focus on revitalizing and completing the
Ido-Osun Airport as originally planned.”
‘RESCHEDULE
GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY TO A MUTUALLY AGREED DATE’
In a letter seen by TheCable, dated December 6 and signed by
Emmanuel Meribole, permanent secretary of the ministry of aviation and
aerospace development, the federal government asked Adeleke to suspend the
groundbreaking event until the issue is resolved.
In the letter, titled, ‘Re: Invitation as a Special Guest of
Honour at the Foundation Laying Ceremony of the Osun State International Airport’,
the ministry said the airport is a federal project which has been included in
its 2024 budget.
“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,” the letter reads.
“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.”
In 2012, the Rauf Aregbesola-led administration attempted to
revive the moribund multibillion-naira airport.
But the efforts did not pay off as the project was again
abandoned to date.
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