- Lai Oriowo said the decision has no political undertone, but was based both on viability and technicalities.
Governor Ademola Adeleke-led administration in Osun State has cleared the air regarding the relocation of the State’s airport.
Residents and indigenes of Ido-Osun in Egbedore local government area of Osun State had on Tuesday taken to the street to protest the Governor’s move to relocate the airport from the town to Ede, Adeleke’s hometown.
Reacting to the protest, the state government disclosed that the relocation of the airport project to Akoda Ede was necessitated by technical issues, especially short runway.
Justifying the relocation decision, a member of the airport project technical committee, Lai Oriowo said the decision has no political undertone, but was based both on viability and technicalities.
His words, “The total area of the site was approximately estimated to be 3,871,806.34square metres (387.18 Ha). The existing runway which is 1.67km did not meet the required standard. The minimum runway for a standard airport is 4.8km. The runway length required for class 4E Aircraft is 3600 x 45m and additional minimum distance of 750 metres on both approaches for Runway End Safety Area/Clearway for instrument runway is 5,100m against the available dimension of 3,250m.
“Citing the runway at this site (Old Aerodrome Site) therefore, will require relocation of Adeleke Secondary School and also the displacement of some settlements at the other end of the site.
“The existing culvert of 65 metres transversely located at different sections of the running route and open/fabricated drainage already constructed are not ideal for an Airport. The required length of culvert across the runway should be 150m against 65m to cover both runway width and its strip.
“The uncompleted terminal building, control tower building, and fire and rescue buildings, are wrongly located with reference to the runway; Access to the Airport is limited to only Osogbo – Ede Road.”
He, however, disclosed that the existing airport at Ido-Osun, which is now under the control of the Air Force would serve both as training school and alternate airport in line with the existing Memorandum of Understanding between the State Government and Air Force.
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