PDP Lied About MKO International Airport- Bola Ilori

The Osun State Commissioner for Regional Integration, Hon. Bola Ilori has said that as usual, the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, has lied again about the condition of the proposed MKO International Airport.

Ilori debunked the party’s claim that the 69.8 billion which would be used to complete the airport is an inflation of the real amount.

The Regional Integration boss said this at the dinner party organised to celebrate the inauguration of Mr Wale Alabi as the senior special adviser to the Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, on Regional Integration.

The Commissioner stated that the PDP has always been lying and spreading rumors about all the developmental projects of the State.

Meanwhile, the international company All Works of Life (AWOL) International Limited that took over the construction of MKO International Airport has dismissed the insinuation that the state government has financial commitment in the concession of the airport to the company.

The AWOL Chief Executive Officer, Ambassador Nurudeen Ogunlade said the state government has no financial commitment to the construction of the airport, explaining that the concession agreement reached by the two parties excused the state of committing any amount to the airport.

While addressing journalists in Osogbo, Ogunlade said the airport would be constructed and funded 100 per cent by his company through the Turkish government, maintaining that they would build, operate and transfer the airport to the government.

Besides, the state government would earn five per cent of the profit of the airport, Land rent, collect tax and other necessary dues will be committed to the government before the transfer”. He said

According to Ogunlade, the first phase of the airport would be completed in eight months time and would begin to operate, adding that construction work had started at the airport site in earnest.

He disclosed that the facilities at the airport will include an ultramodern commercial complex, terminal buildings, control tower, standard civil infrastructure, construction of maintenance building and power house, staff training centre, fire fighting station, security infrastructure, apron and taxiways and dual carriage road from Oba Adesoji Aderemi road to the airport.

Ogunlade said: “Compared with other Airports, MKO International Airport will open the doors of business and other trade related opportunity among Ogun, Ondo, Ekiti, Kogi, Oyo, Kwara and Edo State as well as our foreign visitors.

“On the completion of the construction of First Phase of the Airport within the period of 8months, it will take off with five aircraft, three passengers helicopter and one cargo aircraft by AWOL International Company.

Answering questions on why the contract sum of the airport increased from N11bn to N69bn, Ogunlade said there was new design and structures, explaining that the runway which used to be 3km has been increased to 3.5km.

He said the airport would be completed with the establishment of five Star Hotels, Cultural center, Water Park, Recreation Center and Garden, Butterfly Museum and Casinos within the period of two years.

Ogunlade said AWOL would encourage tourism with the airport and that it will employ over 2000 youths in tourism industry alone.

The Regional Integration Commissioner Ilori however thanked the State Governor for having interest in youths development and for appointing Alabi as his SSA.

In his remarks, the new SSA also appreciated Governor Aregbesola for his support and recognition of the youths, saying he would use his new appointment to propagate the youth in the southwest region together to work for the peaceful coexistence among the people of the region and Nigeria at large.