The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has announced that the Ibadan airport will be closed for six months to facilitate maintenance and upgrade works. The announcement was made by NCAA publicist, Michael Achimugu, on Friday via his X handle.
This closure comes just eight months after President Bola Tinubu approved the upgrade of the airport to international status. Achimugu’s tweet indicated that, “Subject to new information, Ibadan airport may be shut down for six months for maintenance/upgrade, starting from early March.”
In June, President Tinubu gave approval for the Ibadan Domestic Airport, located in Alakia, to be upgraded to an international airport. This was revealed by Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, in Ibadan. In a video clip shared online, Governor Makinde expressed his gratitude, saying, “The President has graciously approved my request for the upgrade of Ibadan Airport to an international airport.”
Makinde explained that once the upgrade is completed—which will involve expanding and extending the runway and improving other facilities—the state will be able to accommodate international flights. Additionally, in January 2025, the governor highlighted the construction of a new international terminal as part of the ongoing efforts to elevate the airport to international standards.
This development follows the groundbreaking ceremony held on September 18, 2024, marking the start of the first phase of the upgrade project. Governor Makinde outlined that the upgrade would be carried out in two main stages, with the first phase already in progress, focusing on improvements to the runway, airport lighting, and fire service enhancements.
