Governor Ademola Adeleke-led administration in Osun State has disclosed that technical issues, especially inadequate runway forced it to relocate the state airport project to Akoda, Ede.



Residents and indigenes of Ido-Osun in Egbedore local government area of Osun State had on Tuesday protested the Governor’s decision to relocate the airport from the town to Ede, Adeleke’s hometown.


Justifying the relocation decision, a member of the airport project technical committee, Lai Oriowo said the decision was based both on viability and technicalities rather than politics.

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