Osogbo, Nigeria – The Osun State Government’s Technical Committee has defended its decision to relocate the proposed airport project from Ido Osun to Ede, the hometown of Governor Ademola Adeleke. The move has sparked controversy and allegations of nepotism, but the committee insists that the relocation is based on technical and safety considerations.
During a press briefing in Osogbo, Mr. Lai Oriowo, a member of the Technical Committee, explained that the current site at Ido Osun failed to meet key aviation standards. He highlighted several inadequacies, including insufficient runway length, the presence of obstructive structures like Adeleke Secondary School, and inadequate culverts and drainage.
“The existing runway at Ido Osun is only 1.67km, far below the required 4.8km for a standard airport,” Oriowo stated. “Siting the runway at this location would require significant displacement of settlements and demolition of existing structures, making it unfeasible.”
The committee’s findings also revealed that the terminal building and control tower were improperly located, further complicating the project’s feasibility at the Ido Osun site. After considering alternative locations, the committee determined that Akoda in Ede met all necessary conditions for the airport project.
Despite the technical justifications, the decision has faced strong opposition from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and residents of Ido Osun. The APC accused Governor Adeleke of nepotism, arguing that the relocation was a selfish move that disregarded the billions of naira already invested in the Ido Osun site since the administration of ex-Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola.
Residents of Ido Osun, led by the Eesa of Ido-Osun, Chief Oyewale Basiru, and former Osun State Assembly lawmaker, Abiodun Awolola, staged a peaceful protest against the relocation. They demanded that the project remain in Ido Osun, arguing that the government’s explanation of encroachment on the land was insufficient.
Governor Adeleke’s administration, however, maintains that the decision to relocate the airport is rooted in technical and safety considerations, not politics. The state government has assured that the existing airport at Ido Osun, now under the control of the Air Force, will serve as a training school and alternate airport in line with the existing Memorandum of Understanding between the State Government and Air Force.
The controversy surrounding the relocation of the Osun airport project continues to unfold, with critics questioning the governor’s motives while the state government insists on the necessity of the move for the project’s success.
