Pros And Cons Of Osun-Turkish Pact On MKO Airport

By Kehinde Ayantunji

Osun State Government last week entered into an agreement with AWOL International Limited for the completion of Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola International Airport located in Ido-Osun.

The agreement in principle is to build the airport, operate and transfer it back to the state government, 30 years after.

The signing of the concession agreement on the completion of the airport will hasten the take-off of its operation within the next eight months.

Chairman of AWOL International Limited, Ambassador Nurudeený James Ogunlade, said the company will shoulder 100 per cent funding of the project.

He disclosed that the project will commence on 9th November, 2017 while the first phase will be completed within eight months and put into use, adding that the entire project will be totally completed by 2019.

He said the airport when completed will serve local and international passengers as well as cargo services, saying this will complement the legacies of the present administration.

He said: “We are entering into agreement with the State Government of Osun to fast track the completion of the MKO Abiola International Airport having realised the zeal and effort being put into it by Governor Rauf Aregbesola-led administration.

“We have seen that MKO Abiola International Airport is designed to facilitate smooth movement of people and goods from one point to the other and serve as a channel or gateway for tourism, hanger/maintenance and cargo hub.

“AWOL International Limited will fund the project 100 per cent through our financial partner like Turkish Exim Bank and Biray Group of Companies from Turkey.

“We will build, operate and transfer the First Phase of the airport with an ultra-modern commercial complex, terminal building, control tower standard infrastructure offices, duty free shops among others.

It will also have a dual carriage road leading from Oba Adesoji Aderemi to Airport and completion of the Fence and surveillance Road within the perimeter of the airport and completion of 3.5 kilometre of standard runway.

“The First Phase of the Airport will be completed within the period of eight months and it will take off with five aircraft, three passengers plane (B767-200ER, MD73 Helicopter (1) and B727 (1) cargo by AWOL International Limited.

“Also, the entire completion will be done within the period of two years and by then we must have had in place the entire establishment of the Airport with Five Star Hotels, including all amenities like cultural centre, water park recreation centre and garden, butterfly museum, casinos etc.

“To us, Osun is a major state in our country with tourism and historical linkages for the international market, and we have seen spectacular economic development with the present and future administration.

“MKO Abiola International Airport will serve as a point of entry to tourists, opening doors for business and other trade related opportunities among the Southwestern states as well as foreign investors.”

He lauded Aregbesola’s commitment to turn Osun to an African Commercial Hub, commending him for his pragmatic effort and resilience towards this project”.

He therefore promised that the company would demonstrate sufficient level of experience to build, maintain, operate and transfer the airport to the state government.

Also speaking, Managing Director, Biray Construction Nigeria Limited, Mr. Kartal Arikan, said the company firmed up the agreement with the Turkish Exim Bank on the provision of funding for the project through the Turkish Ambassador to Nigeria.

He said 85 per cent of materials and services will come from Turkey Construction Company to boost the quality of work during the construction work.

“During the last visit of Governor Rauf Aregbesola to the Turkish Ambassador, Hakan Cakil, the Ambassador promised to facilitate $350 million US dollar for the project development from Turkey Investment Group and effort for that is ongoing.

“Let me assure the good people of Osun and government that Biray Group will support the project, bring to bear the best international professional standard in Airport Construction and development”, Arikan said.

Responding, Aregbesola said despite the paucity of fund, his administration has spent over three billion naira on the project.

Aregbesola said, the idea to have a standard airport was conceptualized before he became governor having realized the need for the state to develop economically, commercially and industrially.

He said with the concession agreement reached with AWOL International Limited, Osun will live to its potentialities, adding that this is on the right track of having a standard airport.

He, therefore, reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to turn the state into a commercial and industrial hub in the Southwest.