The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has announced the planned shutdown of Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport in Ibadan, Oyo State, for six months for maintenance and upgrade works to take place.
In a statement by the director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, NCAA, Michael Achimugu, on Friday, via his X (formerly Twitter) handle, he said the shutdown was expected to start in early March.
LEADERSHIP reports that the announcement comes barely eight months after Oyo State government got the approval of President Bola Tinubu to improve the airport to an international status.
In his tweet, Achimugu said, “Subject to new information, Ibadan airport may be shut down for six months for maintenance/upgrade, starting from early March.”
In June, President Tinubu approved the move to upgrade the Ibadan Domestic Airport, Alakia, to an international airport. This development was made known by Governor Seyi Makinde in Ibadan.
Makinde explained that upon completion of the airport upgrade, which will include the expansion and extension of the runway and the general upgrade of the facilities, the state will begin to receive international flights from anywhere in the world into Ibadan.
Also, in January 2025, the governor announced the construction of the new international terminal as part of efforts to upgrade the facility to international standard.
The development followed the groundbreaking ceremony held on September 18, 2024, for the first phase of the project.
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