Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (2nd left), Chief of staff to the Governor, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola (left), Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director Awol Group International Limited, Chief Ambassador Nurudeen Ogunlade (right), Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General for the State of Osun, Dr. Bashir Ajibola (3rd left), and Head of the Osun Economic Team, Mr. Teju Fagbeja (2nd right), during the Signing of MKO Abiola Int’l Airport Concession Agreement with AWOL International Limited at the Governors office Osogbo, on Thursday
The Government of the State of Osun has signed a concession agreement with All Works of Life (AWOL) International Limited for the completion of MKO Abiola International Airport.
The signing of the concession agreement which is to annex the infrastructure development of the state was held in the State secretariat, Abere, State of Osun on Thursday. AWOL International Limited in partnership with a Turkish company, Biray Group is expected to complete the project within the span of eight months.
Governor Aregbesola displays the MoU as others watch
The Chief Executive Officer, AWOL International Limited, Amb. Nurudeen Ogunlade, said, “Today’s signing of the concession agreement is of great significance to both AWOL and the State of Osun Government on the continuation of the construction of MKO Abiola International Airport and Aviation Maintenance with handling service from the heart of the Oduduwa kingdom.”
He said, “Compared with other local Airport, MKO International Airport will open the doors of business and other trade related opportunity within Ogun, Ondo, Ekiti, Kogi, Oyo, Kwara and Edo State as well as to 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.
He posited that his company will complete the entire Airport with 5 Star Hotels including all amenities like Cultural centre, Water Park Recreation Centre and Garden, Butterfly Museum and Casinos within the period of 2years.
He noted that the concession agreement will be run for 30years before it will be handed over fully to the State government.
In his remark, the State governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola said, “We are doing something that is really extraordinary to take the state to a greater height in Nigeria. When I began the entire project; the airport, roads, the schools and other social infrastructures I was so sure that if there is no problem with our stream of income, definitely all these project will be completed. The arrangements we put on ground will now ensure effective completion of these project, as we did not use the conventional method of financing our project, rather we brought to bear what we called ‘flexible funding’ in partnership with some banks.
“Before the terrible financial mess that befell Nigeria, we had expended the sum of N2, 926, 27,948.5 billion on the project. The contractor handling the project has done certified work amounting to N3; 667,178,112.15 billion, meaning that outstanding for the contractor against the state is the sum of N640, 970,164.10 million and these amounts includes retention of N170, 609, 64.16million.”
