The Oyo State Government has put out a comprehensive proposal to modernize and enlarge Ibadan’s Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport to make it an international hub.
This event was announced in a statement that the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) posted on Monday on its X (formerly Twitter) account.
The statement states that on August 12, 2024, a delegation from the Oyo State Committee on the Airport Expansion Project met for the first time with Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, the Managing Director/Chief Executive of FAAN, and her staff. The delegation was led by Mr. Bimbo Adekambi and Mr. Kabir Mohammed, a former Managing Director of FAAN.
Governor Seyi Makinde’s plan to modernize, enlarge, and renovate the Ibadan airport to match international standards was the main topic of discussion during the meeting.
“Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport Ibadan is set for a massive transformation as the Executive Governor of @oyostategovt, Engr. Seyi Makinde, today, August 12, 2024, sent a powerful delegation of the Oyo State Committee on the Airport Expansion Project, which was constituted by him and led by Mr Bimbo Adekambi and Mr Kabir Mohammed (Former MD of FAAN) for an inaugural meeting with the Managing Director/Chief Executive of @FAAN_Official, Mrs Olubunmi Kuku, and her team to discuss the Oyo state’s proposal of the expansion, rehabilitation, and upgrade of the Ibadan Airport into an International Airport,” FAAN’s post stated.
By establishing Ibadan as a major aviation centre in the area, this proposed project hopes to improve both local and international travel.
What to note
Recently, some Nigerian state governments have stepped up their efforts locally in the aviation industry.
As previously reported by Nairametrics, the Cross River State Government declared in November 2023 that preparations to grow its state-owned airline, Cally Air, by bringing in additional aircraft to its fleet had been completed. Founded during the administration of Benedict Ayade, Cally Air is a public-private partnership between the Cross River State government and Dana Group.
The Abia State Government announced in July 2024 that it would be collaborating with the Federal Government to build a new airport in the state. The state administration of Abia State stated its intention to transform the project into a full-fledged airport, notwithstanding the Federal administration’s initial approval for the construction of an airstrip. In addition, Access Bank has expressed interest in working with the state government on this large-scale project.
In addition, the government of Ebonyi State recently declared its intention to purchase commercial aircraft in order to augment the expansion and functional effectiveness of the government-owned Chuba Okadigbo International Airport. This project seems to be a part of the state’s larger plan to launch an airline similar to Ibom Air, which is based in Akwa Ibom.
