National Telescope national telescope newspaper
Chibuzor Alli
Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde has taken a significant step in fulfilling his promise to transform the Samuel Ladoke Akintola International Airport in Ibadan into a world-class facility.
The foundation for the airport’s new International Terminal was officially laid on Friday, signaling the commencement of the second phase of its upgrade.
This development was disclosed in a statement by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Prince Dotun Oyelade, who described the project as a milestone achievement and a game-changer for Oyo State and neighboring regions.
Governor Makinde had first unveiled the ambitious plan for the airport upgrade on September 18, 2024, during the groundbreaking ceremony.
The project is being executed in two major phases: Phase one is the upgrade of the runway, airport lighting, and fire services, which has already been successfully launched. While Phase two, is construction of a state-of-the-art International Terminal alongside other supporting infrastructure.
At the foundation-laying ceremony, which was performed on behalf of Governor Makinde by Mr. Abimbola Adekanbi, Chairman of the Airport Upgrade Committee, the project was described as “a transformative moment in Oyo State’s history.”
Highlighting the importance of the upgrade, Mr. Adekanbi noted that airports are critical to regional advancement, saying,
“This new International Airport will serve as an essential catalyst for economic development, trade, tourism, and cultural exchange.”
According to him, the new terminal, upon completion, will accommodate up to 1 million passengers annually, a significant leap from the current capacity of 100,000.
This expansion is expected to ease passenger movement, boost cargo handling capacity, and firmly position the Samuel Ladoke Akintola International Airport as a top-tier facility in Nigeria.
He also emphasized progress already made, pointing out that the runway has been extended to 3,000 meters, meeting international standards to handle larger aircraft.
One the project timeline and delivery, the terminal is being constructed by Craneburg Construction Company Limited and is scheduled for completion in the first quarter of 2026.
Once completed, international airline passengers from Oyo and neighboring states will have direct access to flights connecting them to destinations across the globe.
