The Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, on Thursday appealed to
the Federal Government to fulfill it's commitment to the MKO Abiola
International Airport, by making available it's counterpart funds to
This was even as the Minister for Transportation, Rt. Hon. Chibuike
Rotimi Amaechi, promised that having seen the level of work at the
Osun Airport, he would brief the Presidency on the request by the
state for federal government's commitment on the project.
Amaechi after the tour of Federal Government Projects in Osun
commended Aregbesola for judicious use of meager resources accruing to
the state.
He stated that he was in the state to ascertain the level of work done
on federal roads and federal facilities located in Osun.
The Minister hinted that Federal Government decided to embark on
inspection of its projects across the country so as to know the level
of works done by states that are claiming refunds for federal projects
executed by them.
Lauding Aregbesola's government, Amaechi said:"Initially, when the
economic meltdown started, I was very worried for states like Osun
because of the availability of resources.
"Am I still worried? The answer is yes, because the economy hasn't
improved. But I commend him for he has been able to manage gradually
to continue what he started.
"I thank God for the kind of leaders Osun has in him and his deputy
for their being able to manage the little resources."
Amaechi promised that the committee set up by the Federal Executive
Council to inspect Federal Government's projects in various states
will afterwards submit it's report to the Council for adequate action.
"I would take back to the President what I have seen. I would take
that to the President and the he will make a decision based on the
information the council passes on to him.
"We are inspecting federal roads. Some of the states have constructed
federal roads and are asking for refund. So we are going round. We
have a committee set up by Federal Executive Council headed by Raji
Fashola,who is in charge of South-South.
"I am in charge of South-West. There are others too going round the
country," Amaechi said.
On his part, the governor disclosed that Federal Government made the
commitment to share the cost of the airport project with the the state
on 50/50 basis when it gave the approval in 2010.
Aregbesola stated that construction of the airport predated his
administration hence the need for Federal Government to see that the
project is completed in record time.
Aregbesola stated that the airport when completed will be one of the
lucrative ones in the country because of its cargo and hanger
facilities, which is the first in Nigeria.
"We want you to convey our message to the Federal Government on its
commitment to jointly fund the airport with our state base on 50/50
sharing of the cost of the project.
"We believe that the airport has huge economic and aviational value to
both the country and the state.
"In this regard, we want you to intimate the Federal Government to
assist the state with its counterpart funds for the speedy completion
of the project," Aregbesola said.
In his presentation to the Minister, the Consultant Engineer to State
Government on the project, Engineer Wemimo Adebajo, that the airport
when completed will rank among airports with the longest runways in
Nigeria.
On the percentage of work done at the airport noted that government,
having spent N2.7 billion out of the revised total cost of N11billion
for the project, work could be said to have reached 25 percent.
According to the Consultant, the runway of the airport waiting to be
laid with 500 mm asphalt is 3.5 kilometers in length, 12.3 meters
excavation and re-filling with laterite.
He added that both sides of the runway are equipped from the
foundation with water pipes which will be the first of its kind in
Nigeria.
Adebajo stated that with such a feature, the airport will have been
equipped with facilities that will make emergency fire fighting
readily available near the runway in case of any emergency landing or
fire outbreaks.
"I believe the airport is good for the state. The main delay right now
is a question of funding and the state is seeking ways on how to make
it available.
"When completed, the airport will have the longest runway in the
country width of 70cm and and 3.5km in length.
"The runway is going to take about 60 percent of the cost of any
airport project. A lot of work has been done on the runway and there
are about eight streams in the path of the runway.
" It therefore became necessary to excavate and build box covets so
that the water in the streams will flow unhindered under the runway.
"Besides, the airport will have other facilities built to world
standards when completed," Adebajo said.
International Airport, by making available it's counterpart funds to
the project.
Rotimi Amaechi, promised that having seen the level of work at the
Osun Airport, he would brief the Presidency on the request by the
state for federal government's commitment on the project.
Amaechi after the tour of Federal Government Projects in Osun
commended Aregbesola for judicious use of meager resources accruing to
the state.
He stated that he was in the state to ascertain the level of work done
on federal roads and federal facilities located in Osun.
The Minister hinted that Federal Government decided to embark on
inspection of its projects across the country so as to know the level
of works done by states that are claiming refunds for federal projects
executed by them.
Lauding Aregbesola's government, Amaechi said:"Initially, when the
economic meltdown started, I was very worried for states like Osun
because of the availability of resources.
"Am I still worried? The answer is yes, because the economy hasn't
improved. But I commend him for he has been able to manage gradually
to continue what he started.
"I thank God for the kind of leaders Osun has in him and his deputy
for their being able to manage the little resources."
Amaechi promised that the committee set up by the Federal Executive
Council to inspect Federal Government's projects in various states
will afterwards submit it's report to the Council for adequate action.
"I would take back to the President what I have seen. I would take
that to the President and the he will make a decision based on the
information the council passes on to him.
"We are inspecting federal roads. Some of the states have constructed
federal roads and are asking for refund. So we are going round. We
have a committee set up by Federal Executive Council headed by Raji
Fashola,who is in charge of South-South.
"I am in charge of South-West. There are others too going round the
country," Amaechi said.
On his part, the governor disclosed that Federal Government made the
commitment to share the cost of the airport project with the the state
on 50/50 basis when it gave the approval in 2010.
Aregbesola stated that construction of the airport predated his
administration hence the need for Federal Government to see that the
project is completed in record time.
Aregbesola stated that the airport when completed will be one of the
lucrative ones in the country because of its cargo and hanger
facilities, which is the first in Nigeria.
"We want you to convey our message to the Federal Government on its
commitment to jointly fund the airport with our state base on 50/50
sharing of the cost of the project.
"We believe that the airport has huge economic and aviational value to
both the country and the state.
"In this regard, we want you to intimate the Federal Government to
assist the state with its counterpart funds for the speedy completion
of the project," Aregbesola said.
In his presentation to the Minister, the Consultant Engineer to State
Government on the project, Engineer Wemimo Adebajo, that the airport
when completed will rank among airports with the longest runways in
Nigeria.
On the percentage of work done at the airport noted that government,
having spent N2.7 billion out of the revised total cost of N11billion
for the project, work could be said to have reached 25 percent.
According to the Consultant, the runway of the airport waiting to be
laid with 500 mm asphalt is 3.5 kilometers in length, 12.3 meters
excavation and re-filling with laterite.
He added that both sides of the runway are equipped from the
foundation with water pipes which will be the first of its kind in
Nigeria.
Adebajo stated that with such a feature, the airport will have been
equipped with facilities that will make emergency fire fighting
readily available near the runway in case of any emergency landing or
fire outbreaks.
"I believe the airport is good for the state. The main delay right now
is a question of funding and the state is seeking ways on how to make
it available.
"When completed, the airport will have the longest runway in the
country width of 70cm and and 3.5km in length.
"The runway is going to take about 60 percent of the cost of any
airport project. A lot of work has been done on the runway and there
are about eight streams in the path of the runway.
" It therefore became necessary to excavate and build box covets so
that the water in the streams will flow unhindered under the runway.
"Besides, the airport will have other facilities built to world
standards when completed," Adebajo said.
Written by NEWSTRAWL ONLINE UPDATE
Sodiq Oyeleke is a Media, Human Resources, Project Management and Public Relations Practitioner
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