By Ayodele Oni

An Aviation expert has shed light on the controversy surrounding the relocation of the proposed airport in Osun state from Ido- Osun, to Ede, country home of Governor Ademola Adeleke.

The relocation has generated controversy as the people of Ido – Osun, protested and accused the governor of being behind the decision.

The Technical Committee on Aviation has however clarified that the decision was based solely on technical considerations and has no political undertone.

Residents of Ido-Osun’s protest followed an announcement by the Secretary to the State Government, Teslim Igbalaye, detailing plans for Adeleke’s second-anniversary celebrations.

Protesters, reportedly gathered at the palace, carried placards with inscriptions such as “Is Adeleke Governor of Ede or Osun State?”

Addressing journalists, Otunba Lai Oriowo, a renowned aviation expert and head of the technical team, explained the rationale behind the relocation. He emphasised that the decision was devoid of political considerations and based entirely on technical evaluations.

“We are technical people and will not delve into political issues. Our focus is on the technical conditions of the Ido-Osun airport site, aviation regulations, and standards set by the International Civil Aviation Authorities.”

Oriowo, who participated in the project’s early planning under former Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, outlined the historical context of the project.

He stated: “I recall that several administrations took various steps on this project. The last government even ceded the Ido-Osun site to the Air Force, and there’s documentation to that effect.

“When the new administration came into office, it set up a technical committee to review all issues and make an informed decision. The committee comprises aviation professionals.

According to Oriowo, the committee’s findings regarding the Ido-Osun site include:

“The total area of the site is approximately 3,871,806.34 square metres (387.18 hectares) and the existing 1.67 km runway does not meet the required standard for a full-fledged airport.

“The minimum runway length for a standard airport is 4.8 km, while the required length for a Class 4E aircraft is 5.1 km, including safety areas.

“There is insufficient land at the 04-approach threshold near Adeleke Secondary School and the 22-approach threshold near Oshogbo-Ede bypass to accommodate safety requirements.”

Oriowo noted that these limitations rendered the Ido-Osun site unsuitable for a full-fledged airport, though it would still serve as a training school for the Air Force based on an MOU between the state and the Air Force.

“The technical team, in collaboration with aviation agencies in Abuja, assessed alternative sites in May 2024. After a thorough evaluation, the team recommended Akoda, Ede, as the most suitable location for the airport.

“The state government was advised to proceed with soil testing, an environmental impact assessment, and wind-rose analysis for the Akoda site. It was also directed to prepare a topographical map and a draft design for the proposed airport.”

Oriowo revealed that the perimeter survey of the Akoda site showed a total size of 1,922.111 hectares, with a proposed 5.6 km runway, meeting international standards.

He further disclosed that the state government had paid ₦5.091 million to the Nigerian Meteorological Agency for wind-rose and daily wind analysis, and ₦30 million as fees for the airport design.

“The state government remains committed to ensuring the smooth approval and eventual take-off of this critical infrastructure project.”

By Ayodele Oni

It was a day of commendations for Osun state Governor, Ademola Adeleke as activities marking his midterm stewardship continued on Wednesday.

Various segments of the society among which were the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) and League of photo journalists presented awards to the Governor.

Venue of the ceremony in Osogbo, the state capital was filled to capacity with people wearing various types of uniforms specifically earmarked for the event.

A major policy statement made by the governor was the announcement of ease of obtaining the Certificate of Occupancy (CofO) by prospective land owners in the state.

According to the governor, applicants for the C of O are now to get it within 45 days of request. Describing it as a major step to modernize land administration in the state, Adeleke stated that obtaining the document in the past had been tedious. He gave out some immediately to some people.

An official of the Ministry in charge of the document assured that the Governor, with the new application, will be able to sign the C of O from any part of the world.

According to the official, the present administration inherited 13,000 C of Os awaiting approval of the governor. Some applicants whose certificates have been signed were presented with their documents.

Governor Adeleke thanked the people of the state for their patience and cooperation with the administration, saying he was humbled promising to do more for the people.

He assured that a revised five point agenda of his administration, in which several projects will be unfolded will be flagged off in December.

The governor promised to remain committed to transparency and good government.

“TEXT OF STATE BROADCAST BY OSUN STATE GOVERNOR, SENATOR ADEMOLA ADELEKE TO MARK THE SECOND YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF HIS ADMINISTRATION ON NOVEMBER, 27TH, 2024”

I convey my deep appreciation for your strong support and prayers. From November 27th, 2022 to date, Osun residents have demonstrated unshaken faith in our government. Your prayers for me and my team have strengthened us significantly. Your regular counseling have enhanced our intentional drive to deliver on good governance.

My people, you are well aware of what Osun was on and before we took over two years ago. We all recall the pains and sufferings of the public servants and pensioners. We remember the huge infrastructure and policy deficit in transportation, health, education, water, ICT, environment, agriculture and commerce and industry. We cannot forget in a hurry the deep gap between the state leadership and the people.

To revive the state and deliver on good governance, my administration launched out with a five-point agenda. We targeted specific areas of needs of the people which form the major components of the clearly defined agenda.The goal principally was to address the aspirations and immediate needs of our people.

In line with norms of accountability and responsibility to the electorate, I am obligated to render my stewardship midway into the life of our administration. It is, therefore, with praises to God Almighty and the universe that I address you on major advances our admnistration has already recorded across the sectors.

We pursue a preventive health care policy which places emphasis on access to health care. By today, our administration has upgraded 200 primary health care centers out of almost 400 with solar power, boreholes and medical materials. We are now shifting attention to the six general hospitals for upgrade and refurbishing.

In the same vein, we conducted two major Imole medical outreach with over 100, O00 beneficiaries. The third edition is upcoming, even as we have enrolled 29,000 pensioners in the health insurance scheme to bankroll their Healthcare.

On water supply, we developed three structure plans of immediate, short and long term template to resolve the acute water shortage inherited in 2022. Immediately, we delivered 332 boreholes across the 332 political wards in the state. Another 332 is ongoing. Simultaneously, we commenced the rehabilitation of the water works in major towns by relaying the rusted pipes laid in early 70s. Additionally, the abandoned 10 mini-water works are being revived while the project for Ora water scheme is also under implementation.

In the agricultural sector, we started the farm mechanization plan by purchasing 31 tractors in the first phase. Farm inputs were regularly distributed and I am launching the youth agropreneur programme across the 30 local governments and the area councils. We are reviving the farm settlements. We are implementing the new Cocoa and Cashew expansion initiatives.

For the education sector, the University of Ilesa has become a reality with take off grants and accredited courses. Rehabilitation of its internal roads are now ongoing. For the Osun State University, four abandoned projects were completed and a new anatomy laboratory was started and completed by our administration. We rehabilitated 99 secondary schools, restarted the upgrade of the six technical colleges and are about to issue letters of appointment to new teachers.

For the public service sector, our government has paid about 12 billion pension debt in two years compared with 11 billion paid by the opposition for its 12 years in the government of the state. We restored normalcy within the public service with permanent secretaries and regular promotion exercises. Half salary debt is being paid in phases, and a new minimum wage has just been approved for the state workers. Ours is an openly pro-workers government.

In Science and Technology, we gave Osun its first ICT policy, innovations policy and Startup legal framework. We introduced the first digital economy agenda for the state. Implementation of these policies and programmes are ongoing.

For the power sector, our government is finalizing a policy and legal frameworks for the electricity market system. With the devolution of the power sector, the passage of the electricity bill into law in Osun state will enable us to regulate stakeholders in the sector. An electricity regulatory commission will be set up to license generators of powers among others.

My dear people of Osun state, our administration has constructed over 120 kilometers of roads across the state. Several inter- state and intra-city roads completed are to be commissioned during this 16 days anniversary. Two major flyovers are also progressing to completion at Osogbo while works are progressing at the Ile Ife Flyover and Ilesa dualization.

I have redirected our efforts and plan at the completion of Iwo-Osogbo road. We have added the dualisation of Odoori – Adeeke road inside Iwo to be executed in two phases. The first phase will reach Post -Office and Oluwo Palace while the second phase will take off from Post Office to Adeeke Junction.

Our government has enhanced the local economy, not just through its local content policy, we have also expanded access to financing for artisans and small businesses through the cooperative societies. Several millions of naira have been advanced to the state cooperative movement as revolving loans, the first time since the First Republic. We encouraged creation of ward-based artisans cooperative societies across the 332 political wards. Another millions of naira have been advanced to the 332 business groups as revolving loans. During this anniversary, another set of small businesses will get microcredit cheques. Osun money is truly revolving within Osun State economy.

I want our people to note for the record that for all our projects and programmes, we did not obtain any loan. We only block leakages in the state finance and employ local content to moderate project cost and enforce high standards. We never discriminate on inherited projects and we never sack any contractors engaged by our predecessor. We run an open transparent government.

For the second half of our government, I reassure all sons and daughters of Osun State that the government under my leadership will complete all ongoing projects. We will continue to address the infra and social needs of our people. We will strike a balance between hard and soft infrastructure.

Going forward, we will deepen our consultation and interactive mechanism with the citizenry. As we have acted only in public interest in the last two years, we will sustain our responsiveness and respect for the wills and aspirations of our people.

Therefore, I invite you to join me as we commence the anniversary with town hall meetings and commissioning of projects and programmes.

Once again, I thank Osun elders, sons and daughters for your support and prayers. I remain your Governor who is ever committed to service to the high and the low, to the poor and the rich, and to all our citizens and residents.

I thank you for listening.