FG Suspends Osun Airport Relocation Amid Protests
Mathew Amaechi
The Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development has suspended the relocation of the Osun State Airport from Ido-Osun to Ede, following widespread protests and petitions from the Ido-Osun community.
The decision to suspend the foundation-laying ceremony of the Osun State International Airport was announced in a letter dated December 6, 2024, addressed to Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke. The Ministry cited concerns over the duplication and wastage of resources associated with the project.
The Ido-Osun community had expressed strong opposition to the relocation, alleging it amounts to nepotism and favoritism, as it benefits Governor Adeleke’s hometown of Ede. The community also listed grievances including the renaming of the airport, the installation of a Baalè in their town, and the use of guns to chase farmers away from their land.
The airport, which has been in existence since 1936, has seen over N20 billion invested in it by past governments. The Ido-Osun community has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to intervene and reverse the decision, which they claim undermines their rights and interests.
The suspension of the relocation is seen as a significant setback for Governor Adeleke’s administration, which had planned to hold the foundation-laying ceremony on December 16, 2024.
