'Seun Ibukun-Oni, Abuja
Daily Courier – The Federal Government has withdrawn its approval for the N64 billion Osun International Airport project in Ede, citing unresolved disputes over its location and other associated issues. The decision, communicated through the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, has halted plans for the foundation-laying ceremony originally scheduled for December 13, 2024.
This development follows a letter from the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Aviation, Emmanuel Merinole, urging Governor Ademola Adeleke to suspend the event pending the resolution of petitions and the alignment of federal and state efforts.
At the heart of the dispute is the relocation of the airport project from its original site in Ido-Osun to Ede, Governor Adeleke’s hometown. The state government has argued that the Ido-Osun site failed to meet basic aviation requirements, necessitating the move to Ede.
However, the relocation has reignited tensions between the Ido community and Ede, with residents of Ido-Osun staging protests earlier this week. Critics have described the relocation as politically motivated, given Adeleke’s ties to Ede.
The Osun State International Airport project has been mired in financial and administrative controversies since its inception. Under the administration of former Governor Rauf Aregbesola, the project’s budgetary allocation swelled to N69 billion, with approximately N12 billion already spent on the Ido-Osun site.
Despite these investments, progress on the project stalled due to financial constraints, prompting the Aregbesola administration to explore concession options. The recent relocation has raised concerns over the efficient use of public funds and the potential duplication of efforts.
The Ministry of Aviation has emphasized the need for collaboration and prudent resource management. According to the letter from Merinole, the airstrip at Ido-Osun is a federal project included in the Ministry’s 2024 budget. Any expansion to an international airport must align with federal objectives to avoid wastage of resources.
“The Federal Government is mandated to ensure judicious use of funds in order to curtail wastage of resources,” the letter stated.
The federal government’s decision to cancel the project at this time also stems from petitions highlighting the existence of the Ido-Osun airstrip and the financial commitments already made there.
Attempts to reach Olawale Rasheed, the Chief Press Secretary to the Osun State Government, were unsuccessful at the time of reporting. However, the Minister of Aviation’s media aide, Tunde Moshood, confirmed the suspension of the project.
“The airport has been cancelled for now because the previous administration got approval to site the airport in a particular location, and there can’t be two approvals at the same time,” Moshood said.
He acknowledged that the federal government was initially informed about the relocation but attributed the oversight to a lack of due process.
The federal government has urged the Osun State Government to reschedule the foundation-laying ceremony until all disputes are resolved. The call for alignment underscores the importance of cooperation between federal and state authorities in implementing such large-scale projects.
While Governor Adeleke has championed the relocation as a necessity for modern aviation standards, critics argue that the move prioritizes political interests over fiscal responsibility and community needs.
The suspension of the Osun International Airport project highlights the challenges of managing high-profile infrastructure projects amid political and financial constraints. As the federal and state governments navigate these disputes, residents of Osun await clarity on the future of the long-delayed project.
