The Federal Government has withdrawn from the foundation-laying ceremony for the proposed Osun State International Airport in Ede, following a request by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo.
The event, initially scheduled for December 13, was postponed at the ministry’s request due to unresolved disputes surrounding the project. The relocation of the airport from Ido-Osun to Ede, the hometown of Governor Ademola Adeleke, has sparked controversy and tension among stakeholders.
A state government committee had previously reported that the original site in Ido-Osun did not meet basic aviation standards, prompting the proposed move. This decision has reignited a long-standing rivalry between the Ido and Ede communities, with protests emerging from the former earlier this week.
In a letter dated December 6, Permanent Secretary Emmanuel Merinole called for the suspension of the ceremony, citing the need to address petitions related to the existing airstrip and align the state’s plans with federal objectives. The letter emphasized that the airstrip is a federal project included in the ministry’s 2024 budget and highlighted the necessity of efficient resource use and collaboration between federal and state governments.
The letter also pointed out that funds had already been expended on the existing airstrip, urging a reconsideration of the relocation to avoid duplication and waste. The ministry stressed the importance of harmonizing efforts before proceeding with the project.
Attempts to reach the Chief Press Secretary to the state government, Olawale Rasheed, for comments were unsuccessful. Meanwhile, the media aide to the minister, Tunde Moshood, confirmed that the airport project has been put on hold due to multiple petitions. Moshood noted that the previous administration had obtained approval for a different location, and there cannot be two concurrent approvals for the same project.
He further explained that while the ministry had been informed about the relocation, oversight might have occurred. “The airport has been cancelled for now,” Moshood said, adding that the petitions had necessitated a reassessment of the project’s continuation.
