Osun airport receives boost, as Reps pass Bill for its completion
By Tobi Adetunji
The Proposed Osun State airport received a boost as the House of Representatives unanimously passed a bill seeking collaboration between the Nigeria Ministry of Aviation, Nigeria Civic aviation and other stakeholders aimed at fast tracking the completion of state airport.
The House passed this resolution on Wednesday after the member representing Ede North, Ede South, Egbedore and Ejigbo federal constituency of Osun state, Representative Bamidele Salam moved a motion during the plenary sitting.
Highlighting the historical, economic and agricultural significance of the Airport, he canvassed for the synergy between several stakeholders in ensuring all effort is garnered for completion of the project.
He started further, that the MKO Abiola Airport sighted at Iddo Osun, Osun State was the first landing strip built by the British Empire in 1933.
Rep. Salam’s motion which was described as very important by the Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila was seconded by Rep. Benjamin Kalu from Abia state and was unanimously passed by the House.
Before the passage of the motion, the federal lawmaker explained that completion of the airport will form part of efforts to harness the huge tourism, economic and agricultural potentials of the state.
He urged the House to resolve to mandate the Federal Government to take over the completion of the Airport through Federal Ministry of Aviation and Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority in conjunction with Osun State Government who is asked to look at the possibility of partnership on the project.
The motion further urged the House committee on Aviation to ensure compliance.
Rep. Salam noted that the MKO Abiola International Airport is situated in Ido-Osun, Egbedore Local Government of Osun State on a site which was the first community where aviation activity took place in the entire West Africa.
Hon. Salam revealed that after acquisition of the site, an airstrip, which served as take-off and landing platform for the West African Frontier Force during the Second World War, was constructed by the British Empire in the area.
He affirmed Further that the site spans over 839 hectares of land and is located in a flat area which the British considered as a very perfect site for Aviation activities and thereafter made the site the first landing strip in British West Africa during the preparation for the Second World War.
According to him, historical sites such as this are meant to be revitalized and preserved in order to foster appreciation of National history and heritage.
Underscoring the frantic efforts galvanized by the previous and current government in Osun state, he hinted that millions of naira had been invested into the project and works in various capacity have also been executed which makes its completion germane such as not be colossal waste.
He noted that, the former Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola’s administration, in its attempt to construct a modern Airport on the same expanse of land, acquired more land but the life of that government was cut short and therefore, could not be actualized by the administration.
In the same vein, the subsequent administration of former Governor Rauf Aregbesola and the incumbent Governor Gboyega Oyetola attempted to revive the moribund site of the MKO Abiola Airport, but were constraint by several factors.
The lawmaker therefore worried that the 3.5 kilometres runway of the Airport which had been marked, dredged with drainage on each side while many drain boxes are waiting to be fixed. He worried that despite billions of naira already expended on the project, the Airport is currently abandoned and begging for a revival.
Driving further his point, Hon. Salam noted that the execution of Osun state airport will help in harnessing the tourist, economic potential and contribute maximally to the internal generated revenue of the state.
He took cognizance of the fact that Osun State with a population of over 4 million with huge tourism, economic and agricultural potential, is capable of shoring up Nigeria and the state’s revenue in dollars and can best be encouraged with the establishment of an Airport in the state.
Also cognizance that Osun state is one of the most urbanized and cosmopolitan states in Nigeria with the presence of eight leading public and private universities and several other prominent higher institutions of leaning.
He assured that the Airport will facilitate trade, generate economic growth, and ultimately create jobs for the teaming unemployed youth in the State.
However, reacting the development, the Osun State Commissioner for Tourism, Dr. Adebisi Obawale said, “It’s a welcome development. But I will study the term of the project before I comment further.”
