Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has revealed that technical challenges, particularly the inadequate runway at the original site in Ido-Osun, Egbedore Local Government Area, necessitated relocating the state’s airport project to Akoda, Ede.
The decision sparked protests on Tuesday from residents and indigenes of Ido-Osun, who expressed dissatisfaction with the relocation to Ede, Adeleke’s hometown.
Defending the move, a member of the airport project’s technical committee, Lai Oriowo, emphasized that the decision was based on technical considerations and project viability, not politics.
Oriowo explained that the existing runway at the Ido-Osun site fell short of the required standards for a modern airport. “The existing runway is 1.67km, whereas a standard airport requires a minimum runway of 4.8km. For a Class 4E aircraft, the runway length must be 3,600m, with an additional 750m on both approaches for safety, totaling 5,100m. The available dimension is only 3,250m,” he said.
He added that using the Ido-Osun site would involve relocating Adeleke Secondary School and displacing nearby settlements. Additionally, infrastructure such as culverts, drainage systems, and access roads were unsuitable for airport requirements, and critical structures like the terminal building, control tower, and fire and rescue facilities were poorly located relative to the runway.
Oriowo also noted that the existing Ido-Osun facility, now managed by the Nigerian Air Force, would remain operational as a training school and alternate airport under a Memorandum of Understanding with the state government.
Opposition Voices Criticism
Despite the state government’s explanation, Adewale Adebayo, Chairman of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) in Osun, criticized the relocation as nepotistic and undemocratic.
“This decision reeks of favoritism. Governor Adeleke is acting as if he governs Ede alone rather than the entire Osun State. Most of his administration’s initiatives are concentrated in Ede, disregarding other communities that also supported him,” Adebayo argued.
He added that the Ido-Osun airport project was a long-standing initiative intended to improve transportation infrastructure, attract investments, and boost economic growth across Osun State, and the relocation undermines those goals.
The debate over the relocation continues to divide opinion within the state, with calls for a more inclusive approach to developmental projects.