JUST IN: Makinde announce approval of FG to upgrade the Ibadan Airport

The Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has announced that President Bola Tinubu has approved the upgrade of the Ibadan Domestic Airport, Alakia, to an international airport.

Makinde disclosed on Wednesday at the state’s Government House in Ibadan.

In a viral video on social media, the governor was captured as saying, “The President has graciously approved my request for the upgrade of Ibadan Airport to an International Airport.”

The PUNCH had reported that the ninth Senate urged the Federal Ministry of Aviation and other relevant authorities to upgrade the Ibadan Domestic Airport, Alakia, to the status of an international airport.

The resolutions followed the presentation of the motion sponsored by Senator Kola Balogun (PDP-Oyo South) during plenary on “The need to upgrade the Airport with modern facilities.”

The motion was co-sponsored by 37 senators.

Ademola moved the motion, saying that the airport needed to be upgraded with modern facilities because of Ibadan’s potential to attract economic development both locally and internationally.

“Hosting an international airport in Ibadan will propel the tourist sector and provide a communication link which is vital between different groups of people involved within the region.

“The upgrade will also attract foreign investments to the region and ultimately increase the gross domestic product of Nigeria.”

Supporting the motion, Senator Francis Fadahunsi noted that the airport was built in 1983, saying that since then, it had never been upgraded.

The then President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, referred the motion to the Senate Committee on Aviation for further legislative action after unanimous approval of the motion.

The Ibadan Airport was unveiled by the former Senate President, Joseph Wayas, in June 1982.