Osun State's Airport Plans: What's The Current Status?

Osun State in Nigeria does not have an airport of its own. The closest airport to Osun State is Ibadan Airport, which is 38.1 miles away. However, there are plans to build an international airport in Ido Osun, Ede North/Egbedore Local Government Areas. The airport would serve human and cargo transportation. The proposed relocation of the airport project from Ido Osun to Ede has sparked controversy, with locals of the Ido community protesting the move. Aviation industry experts have also questioned the need for an airport in Osun State, arguing that it may result in another unviable airport in the country.

The nearest airport to Osun State is Ibadan Airport, 38.1 miles away

Osun State in Nigeria does not currently have an airport. The closest airport to Osun State is Ibadan Airport, which is 38.1 miles away. Other options for travelling to Osun State include flying into Lagos Airport, 105.5 miles away, or Ilorin Airport, 61.8 miles away.

There have been plans to build an airport in Osun State, with the state government implementing a project to build an international airport at Ido Osun, Ede North/Egbedore Local Government Areas. However, the proposed site of the airport has been deemed controversial, with locals of the Ido community protesting against the relocation of the airport to Ede, the hometown of Governor Ademola Adeleke.

A technical review of the initial site at Ido Osun revealed that the existing runway was far below the required size for a standard airport, and key facilities such as the terminal building and control tower were improperly located. The committee responsible for the project's realisation also noted that the runway's culvert was not ideal for an airport, and the required length should be 150m instead of the current 65m.

Despite the proposed airport's intention to serve human and cargo transportation, aviation industry experts have argued that Osun State does not need an airport. They suggest that constructing one would only add to the number of unviable airports in the country and that funds would be better spent on improving roads to neighbouring airports.

Osun State is planning to build an international airport at Ido Osun

Osun State in Nigeria is planning to build an international airport at Ido Osun, Ede North/Egbedore Local Government Areas. The airport will serve human and cargo transportation. The state government has sought the support of the Minister of Aviation for the project.

The airport is expected to facilitate the smooth movement of people and goods and serve as a channel for tourism, hangar, and cargo. The first phase of the airport was expected to be completed within eight months, with the airport taking off with five aircraft, three passenger helicopters, and one cargo plane. The entire establishment of the airport, including five-star hotels and other amenities like a cultural centre, water park, recreation centre, garden, butterfly museum, and casinos, was expected to take two years.

Ido-Osun is a rustic community in the Egbedore Local Government Area of Osun State. The community gained limelight during World War II when soldiers of the British Empire and the Nigerian Army constructed an airstrip within its domain to airlift war veterans and cargo planes to the battlefronts.

The airport project at Ido Osun has faced some challenges and setbacks. Former governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, attempted to construct a modern airport at the same site, and the outgoing governor, Rauf Aregbesola, also worked on the project, which was awarded to AWOL International Limited for N69 billion. However, the project did not come to fruition, and the current administration is working on implementing the project.

The initial site of the airport in Ido-Osun failed basic aviation requirements

The Osun State government has been working on building an airport in the state, known as the MKO Abiola International Airport, to boost the state's economy, attract investment, and improve transportation infrastructure. The project was initiated during the administration of Rauf Aregbesola, who served as governor from 2010 to 2018. However, the initial site of the airport in Ido-Osun faced several challenges and failed to meet basic aviation requirements.

The Ido-Osun site was chosen as the original location for the airport, and construction began during the Aregbesola administration. However, the project faced delays due to financial constraints and economic challenges. By the end of Aregbesola's administration in 2018, significant work had been done, including land acquisition, clearing, and initial construction phases, but the airport was not completed. Subsequent administrations have focused on securing additional funding to continue the project.

The Ido-Osun site was found to have several issues that prevented it from meeting basic aviation requirements. One major issue was the length of the existing runway, which was only 1.67 km, far below the required size of 4.8 km for a standard airport. The runway length required for class 4E aircraft is 3600 x 45 m, and an additional minimum distance of 750 meters is needed on both approaches for the Runway End Safety Area/Clearway for instrument runways, totaling 5,100 m. The total area of the site was also deemed insufficient, estimated to be approximately 3,871,806.34 square meters (387.18 Ha).

In addition to the runway issues, key facilities such as the terminal building and control tower were deemed to be improperly located. The existing culvert of 65 meters transversely located at different sections of the running route and the open/fabricated drainage were also not ideal for an airport. The required length of the culvert across the runway should be 150 m to cover both the runway width and its strip. Furthermore, the construction of the airport at the Ido-Osun site would require the displacement of some settlements and the relocation of the Adeleke Secondary School.

Due to these issues, the Osun State government decided to relocate the airport site to Akoda. This decision was made based on technical considerations and the need to ensure the airport met the required aviation standards. The controversy surrounding the relocation of the airport site has caused locals of the Ido community to renew their rivalry with Ede, with protests against the move to relocate the airport. However, the government has maintained that the decision was made based on technical and safety considerations, with a 20-man committee headed by Isiaka Adetunji agreeing to the relocation to ensure the successful development of the airport in Osun State.

The runway at Ido-Osun is far below the required size of 4.8km for a standard airport

Osun State in Nigeria is currently implementing a project to build an international airport at Ido-Osun. However, the existing runway at Ido-Osun, which was constructed during Rauf Aregbesola's tenure, is only 1.67 km long, far below the required size of 4.8 km for a standard airport. This discrepancy in length means that the runway will require a minimum of an additional 750 meters of distance. Furthermore, key facilities such as the terminal building and control tower have been deemed improperly located. The Adeleke Secondary School and some nearby settlements will also need to be displaced for the airport to meet the required standards.

The proposed relocation of the airport project from Ido-Osun to Ede, Governor Ademola Adeleke's hometown, has sparked tension in the state. The decision to relocate was made due to technical and safety considerations, as the initial site failed to meet basic aviation requirements. However, the move has renewed the age-long rivalry between the locals of the Ido community and Ede, with Ido-Osun residents voicing their opposition to the relocation plan.

Some aviation industry experts have argued that Osun State does not need an airport. They suggest that constructing an airport may only increase the number of unviable airports in the country and that governors should instead focus on repairing roads to nearby airports. John Ojukutu, an industry expert, advised against wasting public funds on "needless airports."

The state's Free Trade Zone site, close to the initial airport site, was considered as an alternative location. However, the technical committee noted that the land is relatively flat and lacked the necessary geological features for an airport.

Aviation industry experts have argued that Osun State does not need an airport

Osun State in Nigeria is currently implementing a project to build an international airport at Ido Osun, Ede North/Egbedore Local Government Areas. The airport will serve human and cargo transportation. However, aviation industry experts have argued that Osun State does not need an airport. They contend that constructing an airport in Osun State might only increase the number of unviable airports in the country, causing further issues for the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria.

Industry expert John Ojukutu asserted that governors should focus on repairing roads leading to nearby airports in their states rather than wasting public funds on unnecessary airports. Indeed, the proposed Osun State airport project has faced significant controversy due to its initial site failing to meet basic aviation requirements. The runway at Ido Osun, constructed during Rauf Aregbesola's tenure, was found to be far below the required size for a standard airport. Additionally, key facilities such as the terminal building and control tower were deemed improperly located.

The committee responsible for the airport's realisation relocated the site from Ido Osun to Ede, Governor Ademola Adeleke's hometown. This decision sparked tension in the state, reigniting an age-long rivalry between the Ido and Ede communities. Locals from Ido Osun voiced their opposition to the relocation plan, while the committee, headed by Isiaka Adetunji, maintained that technical and safety considerations prompted the move. The new site at Ede, however, also faced criticism for its flat terrain and the presence of River Osun, which could impact the proposed runway orientation.

With the existing challenges and concerns raised by aviation industry experts, the need for an airport in Osun State remains a subject of debate. Improving connectivity to nearby airports in neighbouring states could be a more prudent alternative to constructing a new airport, as suggested by industry professionals.

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