MKO Abiola Airport To Be Completed By May 2014- Contractor

Contractor promises completion of new airport in Osun State by May 2014

WorldStage Newsonline-- Aeronautical Engineering and Technical Services company handling the contruction of MKO Abiola International Airport, Ido Osun, in Osun State has assured that the project will be completed by May 2014.

According to the company's Project Supervisor, Engr. Abubakar Abuyaro, the airport's 3.5 kilometers runway when completed will be the longest in the country.

Addressing Governor Rauf Aregbesola and his entourage on a visit to the site in Ido-Osun, he said it would beat the Muritala Mohammed International Airport and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja with 3 kilometre and Abuja 2.8 kilometre and 2.8 respectively.

Aregbesola, who was conducted round the airport by the Project Supervisor, inspected the runway for aircraft which is under construction and other facilities at the airport.

Abuyaro said that largest part of the work on the airport is on the runway, which progress has been slowed down by this year incessant heavy rain.

According to Abuyaro, that majority of the excavation work that needed to be done could not be carried out during the rainy season in order to ensure a quality job.

"Fifty per cent of the earth work on the runway, which is the most important part of the job, has been achieved. Rainy season is gradually going to an end. As soon as rainfall subsides, work will definitely go at a high speed in the airport, which after completion, is going to be one of the best airports in the country," he said.

Abuyaro, who explained that a solid base is needed for the 3.5 kilometres runway, which he said will be the longest in the country, disclosed that all the hydraulic structures, which form the drainages and culverts for the runway, are being constructed now in other to speed up the job.

He stated further that the form work for the precast drainages are already on ground and casting work is going on everyday so as to speed up job when the rai rain stops.

Engr. Abuyaro noted that when completed, the airport will be one of the best and one with the longest runway in the country, saying that the length of the runway of an airport determines the aircraft the airport can accommodate.

He said that the MKO International Airport is being built to accommodate the Boeing 737 aircraft series.

Governor Aregbesola, who commended the company for its diligence to work, also inspected the East By-Pass Road to ensure that they contractors do quality job and delivered on agreed date.

The project being handled by a Turkish company, Slava Yeditepe, is to complete the circle of rings around the state capital and ensure no traffic bottlenecks are created as the state capital witnesses rapid developments.