Mary Agidi

Ondo State government has moved to resuscitate the moribund aerodrome in Igodan-Lisa Okitipupa local government area of the state to lessen the stress of the oil expatriates traveling from Akure and to bring more development to the State.

To this end, delegates of the state ministry of Transportation, led by the Special Adviser to the governor on transportation, Barrister Tobi Ogunleye in company of the deputy speaker of the state House of Assembly, Rt Hon Deji Iroju visited the site for authentication.

Speaking at the palace of the Olu of Igodan-Lisa, Ogunleye said the state governor Arakurin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN has a thirst for developmental projects and has assured of his determination to execute same with the available resources.

According to him, the aerodrome which is the idea of the Federal government is under the exclusive list and what the state needs to do is to create an enabling environment.

“Aerodrome has been there since late 60s , the place has been acquired for that purpose, and it was abandoned for decades ,now the Federal Government is revisiting it because of the developmental projects that are evolving in the southern part of Ondo state.

“All that the Federal Government is expected of us is to make sure that we reclaim our lost heritage, it’s not the prerequisition of the state, not within the jurisdiction of the state, if fg has reason to establish more aerodrome, this one is not an ornamental one not just to show off ss for a purpose in this zone because the oil companies, seaport, bitumen are here”. He said.

He described the aerodrome which was the first in the state during the biafra war as the diamond mine of the state.

Warning encroachers to vacate the site, Ogunleye expressed optimism that work will commence as soon as possible on the project when federal government delegates must have come to visit the aerodrome.

Reacting, the deputy speaker noted that FG is interested in the aerodrome so that it would further boost the development of the area and the State as a whole.

Appreciating the youths of the area for not posing as obstacles to implementation of the projects as it is done by youths in some area, Iroju further solicited their support and described them as agents of development.

“they didn’t in any way obstruct the project and I advise them to support the emancipation of the project so that the community will witness the developmental stride”, he said.

The Olu of igodan Lisa, Oba Paul Akinsola being the king that witnessed the functioning of the aerodrome about 60years ago, thanked the current administration for the move to revive it in his lifetime.

He appealed to the government to kick start the project as soon as possible and not to delay it while pledging his support and the community to the successful operation of the aerodrome.