Residents of Ido-Osun, in Osun State, staged a protest Tuesday against the state government’s plan to relocate the airport project from Ido-Osun to Ede, the hometown of Governor Ademola Adeleke.
The demonstration, organized by the Ido-Osun Youth Forum, rejected the government’s explanation that the current airport site in Ido-Osun is no longer suitable due to encroachment by unauthorized buildings.
Abiodun Awolola, a former member of the Osun State House of Assembly, spoke on behalf of the protesters. He criticized the move as nepotistic, noting that the decision to move the airport to Ede—a location associated with the governor—was politically motivated.
“The Ido-Osun airport has existed since 1936 and has been developed over the years by several administrations,” Awolola said. “Over N20 billion has already been invested in the project. Abandoning it to build a new airport in the governor’s hometown would waste public funds and further delay the region’s development.”
Awolola also pointed out that the Ido-Osun site houses key facilities, including the Nigerian Airforce Research and Development Center and an Aviation City, designed to support civil, military, and cargo aviation, as well as a hub for AI drone manufacturing. He argued that this project could have flourished under Governor Adeleke’s leadership rather than being scrapped in favor of a new site.
Awolola urged President Bola Tinubu to intervene and prevent the relocation. He also called on Ministers of Works and Aviation, David Umahi and Festus Keyamo, who were invited to the groundbreaking ceremony for the new airport site in Ede, to boycott the event.
The opposition Allied Peoples Movement (APM) also condemned the airport relocation. Party chairman Adewale Adebayo said the decision reflects political favoritism and a disregard for the N20 billion already spent on the Ido-Osun site. He criticized the move as an inefficient use of public funds and a betrayal of the people’s interests.
Efforts to reach Olawale Rasheed, the spokesperson for Governor Adeleke, for comment were unsuccessful at the time of publication.