Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State is set to begin the upgrade of Ibadan’s Alakia Airport to international standards today, as confirmed by his Special Adviser on Media, Sulaimon Olanrewaju.
This development follows the establishment of an 11-member committee tasked with overseeing the project, chaired by former Commissioner for Finance, Bimbo Adekanmbi.
The airport upgrade was approved by the Federal Government after several initiatives by the state to align with Makinde’s vision for economic growth.
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At the inauguration of the committee on July 30, Governor Makinde explained that transforming the airport is part of his administration’s efforts to strengthen the state’s economy, particularly through agribusiness.
He clarified that this decision was not made to compete with other states but was carefully planned based on research and data.
“The decision to upgrade the airport was a well-thought-out one, based on science, logic, and data,” Makinde said. “We laid the foundation for this project four years ago during our first tenure. We’ve also completed a 500,000-litre aviation fuel storage and dispensing facility, now managed by Bovas Group.”
The airport upgrade is expected to boost Oyo State’s economic opportunities and attract international businesses, enhancing the region’s development.
