…Hails Gov Makinde’s giant strides

By Michael Ofulue, Osogbo

Governor Ademola Adeleke has expressed his determination to revive and complete the 12-year-old Osun Airport project in Osun State.

Osun is the only state in the South West without an airport.

He made the declaration at the flag-off of the upgrade of Ibadan Airport to Ladoke Akintola International Airport, where Governor Seyi Makinde described the Ibadan upgrade project as “economically viable and sustainable.”

The Governor, through a statement by his spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, commended Governor Makinde as “a man of vision and a passionate agent of development.” He said, “We are pushing ahead with a very ambitious governance agenda.

“We are building roads, bridges, and flyovers. We are upgrading schools, health centres, and reviving agriculture.

“We have turned Osun into a huge construction site. We have adopted a local content policy to deepen the local economy, create jobs for our people, and spread skills acquisition. Like Governor Makinde, who is Mr Actualiser of Oyo State, I am in a hurry to take Osun to an agro-industrial, export-oriented economy.

“I am glad to announce to this august gathering that our government has concluded plans to complete the almost 12-year-old Osun Airport project.

“Our airport vision is now upgraded to include a cargo terminal alongside a free trade zone under a PPP arrangement,” the Governor said.

He commended the Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for supporting the state’s aspirations for the development of the aviation sector.

“I indeed salute the Honourable Minister of Aviation for his supportive role towards Osun and other states. We thank the Minister for supporting our vision to tap into the multi-trillion-dollar global aviation industry,” Governor Adeleke told the gathering of dignitaries.

Speaking at the event, Governor Makinde said the upgrade is “a strategic investment to be delivered on time and on target.”

Citing investors already indicating interest, Governor Makinde described the flag-off as the first phase, noting that the second phase would involve technical expansion of facilities.

The Governor said the upgrade will take a year, not one and a half years, promising that sufficient funds will be allocated for its early completion.

He expressed confidence in the capacity of the contractor, Craneburg, to deliver on the project, describing the cost of the first phase as forty-one billion naira.