Ido-Osun not suitable for full fledged airport — Osun Govt

By Ismail Azeez, Osogbo

Osun State Government, has said the Ido-Osun airport site is not suitable for a full fledged airport.

Speaking on Wednesday in Osogbo, on behalf of the technical team appointed by Governor Ademola Adeleke, Lai Oriowo, said Ido-Osun will serve as training school for the air force and also serve as an alternate airport.

He disclosed that three was a Memorandum Of Understanding, (MoU) reached between the State and the Air Force.

Oriowo stated that the Ido-Osun site is not spacious enough to accommodate the airport that the Governor Ademola Adeleke envisions.

According to him, 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 meters 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.

“The above reasons were cited as making the old site unsuitable for a full fledged airport. It will still serve as training school for the air force based on the MOU between the State and the airforce,” it added.