Ahead of the official opening of the upgraded Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport in Ibadan, the Oyo State Government has donated four operational vehicles to support the airport’s management.
The vehicles were presented by the Chairman of the Airport Upgrade Committee, Mr. Bimbo Adekanmbi, on behalf of Governor ‘Seyi Makinde.
Speaking during the presentation, Adekanmbi explained that the donation was part of the state government’s commitment to ensuring the airport operates effectively as an international facility. He noted that several key components were required to make the airport fully functional and that the state could not rely solely on the Federal Government or the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) for support.
“This is a donation from the governor on behalf of the Government of Oyo State,” he said. “For an airport to be fully operational, there are many essential facilities needed, and we cannot wait for the Federal Government to fund all of them. Because the governor is leading this upgrade, he has donated these vehicles.”
Adekanmbi explained that the four vehicles were allocated to key operational agencies at the airport: the Aviation Security Department of FAAN, the Nigerian Police Airport Command, the Airport Operations Department, and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
“These agencies were carefully selected, and each vehicle is dedicated to a specific function to enhance operations at the upgraded airport,” he added. “This gesture underscores the government’s seriousness and commitment to making the airport a true international facility. Even the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria landed here with a wide-bodied A330 aircraft during the coronation of the new Olubadan, which shows everything is coming together.”
He also disclosed that the airport runway is fully completed and ready for local flights, while construction on the international terminal has reached about 35 percent completion and is expected to be ready by 2026.
In his remarks, the Airport Manager, Mr. Oluwagbenga Afuwape, who represented the Managing Director of FAAN, Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, commended Governor Makinde for the gesture, describing it as a demonstration of his commitment to boosting the state’s economy through improved air transport infrastructure.
Similarly, the Manager of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) at the airport, Mr. Famosinpe Gbenga, lauded the donation, noting that the vehicles were timely and would strengthen airport operations.
