MAKINDE TO WIKE: TINUBU DIDN’T GIVE OYO N50BN FOR AIRPORT

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has rejected claims that President Bola Tinubu provided N50 billion to the state government for the upgrade of the Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport in Ibadan.
Makinde described the claim as inaccurate, stressing that the airport rehabilitation and upgrade project was funded entirely by the Oyo State Government. He said the state did not receive N50 billion from the Federal Government for the project.
The governor’s response followed a recent statement by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, who had claimed that the Tinubu administration provided N50 billion to support the airport project.
Makinde said the Oyo State Government took responsibility for financing the project, which was launched in September 2024 with an initial estimated cost of about N41 billion. The upgrade includes improvements to both the domestic and international terminals.
The domestic terminal upgrade was completed in 2025, while work on the international terminal and other components of the airport development has continued. The state government has maintained that the project is part of its efforts to improve transportation infrastructure and strengthen Ibadan’s position as an economic hub.
The disagreement over the funding has added another dimension to the ongoing political exchanges between Makinde and Wike, particularly as political realignments ahead of the 2027 elections continue to generate debate.