PAUL OMOROGBE chronicles the progress made by the Oyo State government in turning its Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport, Ibadan, to an international airport.
When the Federal Airports Authority of Nigerian (FAAN), on their own volition, announced on their social media handles the intention of the Oyo State Government to upgrade the airport in Ibadan to international status, it became clear to Nigerians home and abroad that the move was no ruse.
In the words of FAAN, the Oyo State government had sent “a powerful delegation” to meet its Managing Director/Chief Executive, Mrs Olubunmi Kuku, to the discuss the project.
On X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram, FAAN announced: “Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport Ibadan is set for a massive transformation as the Executive Governor of Oyo State, 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 the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs Olubunmi Kuku, and her team to discuss Oyo State’s proposal of the expansion, rehabilitation and upgrade of the Ibadan Airport into an international airport.”
After the August visit to FAAN, Governor Makinde in September, the following month, flagged off the project for the upgrade of the Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport, located in Alakia area of Ibadan, to an international airport.
Weeks earlier, the governor had inaugurated an 11-man committee set up to oversee the delivery of the project. The committee is headed by a former Commissioner for Finance in the state, Mr Bimbo Adekanmbi.
‘A well-thought-out decision’
Observers will note that in recent times, a number of state governments in the country have embarked on various airport and aviation projects.
In November 2023, the Cross River State Government announced plans to expand its state-owned airline, Cally Air, by adding new aircraft to its fleet. Cally Air operates as a joint venture between the Cross River State government and Dana Group under a public-private partnership.
In July 2024, the Abia State Government expressed its desire to develop a new airport in the state. The Federal Government had initially approved the construction of an airstrip for the state. However, the Abia State government said that it wants a fully operational airport.
Also, the Ebonyi State Government has announced intentions to acquire commercial airplanes to enhance the growth and operational efficiency of the state-owned Chuba Okadigbo International Airport. This is similar to the Cross River airline venture announced in 2023 and the long-standing state airline, Ibom Air belonging to Akwa Ibom.
Is the Oyo State government simply tagging along other states with its own airport venture? Speaking during the inauguration of the committee on July 30, 2024, the Oyo State governor had noted that the upgrade of the airport would support his administration’s drive to expand the economy of the state through agribusiness.
He said: “The decision to convert our existing local airport into an international airport was not a hasty one; we are not engaged in a let-me-do-this-because-other-governors-are-doing-it-competition.
“This is a well-thought-out decision based on science, logic and data. This vision is already four years old and we laid the groundwork in our first tenure. We have completed the 500,000-litre aviation fuel storage and dispensing facility, which has been concessioned to Bovas Group.”
On another occasion, the governor addressed critics of the airport project at Thanksgiving event in January, saying: “One of the major projects that we know we will deliver this year, that is very much after my heart, is the Ibadan airport to upgrade it to international standards. Some people have said, oh no, it’s a project that is not viable. Why are we spending money on it? There are airports in Nigeria that are not viable.
“And they will also tell me that Ibadan is very close to Lagos. Yes, that is true. But Ibadan airport should have been an alternative airport to Lagos from day one.
“When we came in, there was no aviation fuel storage or dispensing facility at Ibadan airport. How would it be viable if planes cannot come and refuel in this place?
“Airplanes will drop people’s luggage in Abuja because they have to carry enough fuel to bring them to Ibadan and take them back to Abuja. So how will the airport be viable? So now we put an aviation fuel storage and dispensing facility in there.
“And yesterday, I saw with my eyes an airplane being refuelled at our airport in Ibadan. So we’ve removed one of the obstacles that is making the airport not viable. We’re also extending the runway. If you have a runway that cannot take more than a Boeing 737, we’re extending it. A 787 will land at Ibadan airport shortly.
“We made a terminal that is only good for maybe 100,000 people yearly. How will it be viable? So we’re building a new terminal that can take 1 million passengers yearly through that airport.
“And if you’re flying from London to Lagos, which we almost always do, what you actually do is that you fly 17 minutes into Lagos past Ibadan, and then you now use two hours to come back here through the road. If you don’t have to do that, if they can just drop you here 20 minutes before they will get to Lagos, who will go to Lagos?
“So Ibadan airport, with what we’re doing, it will be viable, and it will compete favourably with Lagos. Please keep supporting us.”
A new terminal
Moving to the next stage of the project was the foundation laying ceremony of the new international terminal at the airport last Friday.
The chairman of the Airport Upgrade Committee, Mr Adekanmbi, performed the foundation-laying ceremony on behalf of Governor Makinde. He said the event marked a crucial stage of the airport upgrade plan, after the first phase of the airport upgrade project began in September 2024 with the extension of the runway to 3,000 metres to meet international standards and regulatory requirements to accommodate larger aircraft.
The new terminal will be constructed by Messrs Craneburg Construction Ltd and is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2026.
Adekanmbi stated that with the new terminal it will ease the flow of passengers, boost the airport’s cargo handling capacity, and position the Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport as a top-tier facility in Nigeria.
He said: “Today, we embark on a remarkable journey that will redefine the aviation landscape of this region, opening up new horizons of opportunity, growth, and connectivity- the commencement of the construction of a new terminal building at the Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport.
“This event represents not only the start of a major transformation but also a testament to the unwavering vision and exceptional leadership of our Governor, His Excellency Engineer Seyi Makinde.
“His Excellency has championed the development of the Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport, not just as an infrastructural upgrade, but as a gateway to unlocking the immense economic potential of Oyo State and the entire Southwest region.
He added: “This initiative goes beyond just expanding capacity; it is about creating a modern, efficient, and world-class airport that enhances the overall travel experience while driving economic growth, attracting investments, and empowering the people of Oyo State.”
The chairman of the Airport Communities Association, Duro Ogunsesan, praised the governor’s efforts to upgrade the airport, saying that communities around would benefit from job opportunities which the new international airport would create.
Senior Manager of Craneburg Construction Ltd, Edmond Maalouf, promised a timely delivery of the project. Craneburg’s Site Engineer, Oliver Makhlouf, during a media tour explained the progress recorded so far on the upgrade of the airport runway.
In his remarks, the Director of Engineering of the Federal Airport Authority (FAAN), Adejare Abiola, said: “We want to appreciate the Executive Governor of the state for what he has been doing. He has been supporting us. He has donated project vehicles for security patrol. Today, he has fulfilled another promise and we, as FAAN, are ready to support him and the Airport.”
Similarly, the Airport Manager, Mr Francis Balogun, commended the state government on the ongoing upgrade of the airport.
A member of the Airport Upgrade Committee, who is also the Commander of the National Air Defence Corps, Air Vice Marshall Victor Ajiboye, commended Governor Makinde “for his unwavering commitment to the development of Oyo State.”
Apart from the new terminal, the project will see the extension of the apron slab, extension of the service road, upgrading the two existing taxiway links to improve the capacity to receive heavier aircraft, introduction of 7.5 metre width shoulders on both sides to increase the width from 23 metres to 38 metres, and a third taxiway link in accordance to international standards.
The runway width will be expanded from 45 metres to 60 metres and total length extension from 2,400 metres to 3,000 metres. Airfield lighting will also be improved, and fire services upgraded.