Oyo state government to Wike: FG didn’t give a kobo for Ibadan airport upgrade

The Oyo state government Tuesday said the federal government did not give the state “a kobo for the Ibadan airport project.”

The government in a statement by the special adviser to Governor Seyi Makinde, Dr Sulaimon Olanrewaju, said the airport project was ‘approved at no cost to the federal government.’

The Oyo state government said the records for the approval of the project are with the presidency just as they are with the Oyo state government.

Reacting to a statement credited to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyensom Wike that the president had ‘settled’ Oyo state with N50 billion for the reconstruction of the airport, Olanrewaju said:

“Approved at no cost to the federal government” was President Bola Tinubu’s minute on the proposal submitted to him by Governor Makinde for the reconstruction and upgrade of the Ibadan airport.

“In line with the approval granted by the federal government, which clearly stated that the airport upgrade would be undertaken at no cost to the federal government, the Oyo state government has fully financed a comprehensive transformation of the facility.

“This includes the expansion and strengthening of the runway, upgrade of the airfield lighting and navigational systems, apron improvements, construction of supporting infrastructure such as the dualised Airport Road, enhanced aviation safety installations, and ongoing work on a modern international terminal designed to significantly boost passenger and cargo capacity.

“Every component of the upgrade has been executed and funded solely by Oyo state. Wike’s statement is both untrue and unfortunate. He should have sought knowledge on the matter before going on air.”