Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke has announced his determination to complete the long-abandoned Osun Airport project, which has been stalled for almost 12 years.
This move aims to remove Osun’s status as the only South Western state without an airport. He made this declaration at the flag-off ceremony for the upgrade of Ibadan Airport to Ladoke Akintola International Airport.
At the event, Governor Adeleke praised Governor Seyi Makinde’s vision and leadership, describing him as “a man of vision and a passionate agent of development.” He highlighted his own administration’s ambitious governance agenda, which includes building roads, bridges, and flyovers, upgrading schools and health centers, and reviving agriculture.
Adeleke emphasized his focus on creating jobs, spreading skills acquisition, and deepening the local economy through local content policy.
The Osun Airport project, initially conceived over a decade ago, will now include a cargo terminal and a free trade zone under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement.
This upgraded vision aligns with Adeleke’s goal to transform Osun into an agro-industrial and export-oriented economy.
Governor Adeleke commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration for supporting Osun’s aviation sector development aspirations. He specifically thanked the Honourable Minister of Aviation for his supportive role in helping Osun tap into the global aviation industry.
Governor Makinde, in his remarks, described the Ibadan Airport upgrade as “economically viable and sustainable” and “a strategic investment to be delivered on time and target.”
He noted that investors have already expressed interest and outlined the project’s two phases, with the first phase valued at 41 billion naira and expected to be completed within a year.
Makinde expressed confidence in the contractor, Craneburg, and assured sufficient funding for early completion. The upgrade’s success is expected to have a positive impact on the region’s economy and infrastructure development.
Governor Adeleke’s commitment to completing the Osun Airport project and upgrading infrastructure also reflects his administration’s focus on economic growth and development.
