Samuel Ladoke Akintola International Airport ready soon — Makinde  

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, on Friday, promised that the upgrade of the Samuel Ladoke Akintola International Airport, Ibadan, will soon be ready.

Makinde disclosed this while laying the foundation for the new international terminal and turning the sod for the second phase of the runway for the airport.

The foundation laying was performed on behalf of the governor by the Chairman of the Samuel Ladoke Akintola International Airport Upgrade Committee, Mr. Bimbo Adekanmbi.

The step was in continuation of the September 18, 2024, milestone. Recall that Makinde and Senator Ademola Adeleke of Osun State inaugurated the commencement of the upgrade.

The governor said the commencement of the construction of a new terminal building was an extraordinary moment in the history of Oyo State.

He outlined that the project would be executed in two major phases. The first phase, which includes the upgrade of the runway, airport lighting, and fire services, has commenced successfully.

The second phase involves the construction of a new international airport terminal and other related infrastructure.

Identifying the pivotal role airports play in the advancement of any region, Adekanmbi described the new international airport as an essential catalyst for economic development, trade, tourism, and cultural exchange.

“In September 2024, we marked the beginning of this ambitious transformation with the extension of the runway to 3,000 meters, meeting international standards and regulatory requirements to accommodate larger aircraft,” Adekanmbi said.

“We are proud of the progress made thus far, but today, we take another giant leap forward with the foundation laying of the new terminal building—a crucial component of our upgrade plan.

“Once completed, this state-of-the-art terminal building will accommodate up to 1 million passengers annually, a massive increase from the current capacity of 100,000. The project, which will be delivered by Craneburg Construction Company Limited, is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2026.

“This will not only ease the flow of passengers but will also boost the airport’s cargo handling capacity, positioning Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport as a top-tier facility in Nigeria,” he added.

The Site Manager, Emond Maalouf, and Site Engineer, Oliver Makhluof, of Craneburg Construction Company, promised to deliver the project on time.

In their various remarks, the Chairman of the Airport Community Development Association, Dr Duro Ogunsesan, the Director of Engineering Services, Federal Airport Authority (FAAN), Ibadan, Engineer Adejare Abiola, and representatives of some airline operators lauded the initiative of the governor to upgrade the status of the airport, noting that the upgrade would boost the economy of the state and create employment opportunities.

Journalists were later led on an assessment tour of the ongoing project, where they were made to understand that the existing runway would be expanded to international standards, while the existing apron would also be extended by 270 meters with a 40-centimetre thickness for planes to take off.

Present at the event were the Commissioner for Public Works and Infrastructure, Prof. Dahud Sangodoyin; Engr. Femi Babalola; Tolulope Oyediran from BOVAS, and others.