Ibadan Airport to become international soon – Makinde
Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo state Thursday said the federal government has approved the upgrade of Ibadan Airport, Alakia to an international airport.
The governor dropped this hint while receiving the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hassan Baba Abubakar, at the executive chamber, Governor’s Office, Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan.
Governor Makinde said President Bola Tinubu has approved the upgrade of the airport facility and that the upgrade would commence in the next three weeks.
The governor said that the project would include the construction of a new terminal, runway and other structural features to be handled by experts and delivered to standard.
“Since I came into office, this administration has focused on education, agriculture, health and expansion of our economy. We have been talking to the presidency and we got a response from them early this week that the president has graciously approved my request for Ibadan airport to be upgraded”, he said.
Gov Makinde added, “I will be in Abuja soon to get the documents relating to the approval. And within three weeks, we will start the project. We will expand the runway and build a new terminal.”
He added that his administration had spent the last five years turning around the state’s economy and identified the need for the upgrade of the Ibadan airport as being central to its economic expansion agenda.
The governor pointed out that his government’s resolve to build infrastructure that targets the economic expansion agenda has also seen it investing resources on the 110 kilometres Ibadan Circular Road.
Speaking further, Gov Makinde said his administration would consider the Air Force’s request for land for its post-retirement housing scheme on the Circular Road corridor.
Appreciating the chief of staff for his effort in working with sister security agencies to secure Oyo state, the governor pleaded that the cordial relationship between the force and the people of the state be maintained.
Gov Makinde added that the Air Force has been a major contributor to maintenance of internal security in Oyo state, as its personnel have been working closely with Operation Burst, adding that his administration has remained committed to working with the Air Force to deliver the Air Force Base in Ajia, Ibadan.
While stating that his promise of a speedy completion of the road that leads to the base would be kept, he said Oyo state government is fixing several roads along the Air Force Base axis that would facilitate easy movement of personnel and equipment.
