IBADAN, NIGERIA — Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has refuted claims by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, that the Federal Government provided N50 billion for the upgrade of the Ibadan airport, describing the statement as false and misleading.
Makinde made the rebuttal on Tuesday during a media briefing in Ibadan, where he addressed recent comments by Wike on the funding of the Ibadan airport project. He said the Federal Government did not provide any N50 billion for the project, and that the upgrade was being funded entirely by the Oyo State Government.
“I want to set the record straight. The claim by the FCT Minister that the Federal Government gave Oyo State N50 billion for the Ibadan airport is false. No such money was given. The Ibadan airport upgrade is being funded by the Oyo State Government. We have not received any N50 billion from the Federal Government for this project,” Makinde stated.
The governor said his administration had invested significant resources in the upgrade of the Ibadan airport, including the expansion of the runway, the construction of a new terminal building, and the installation of modern navigational equipment. He said the project was part of his administration’s efforts to boost economic development and to position Oyo State as a hub for aviation and commerce in the South-West.
“We are committed to completing the Ibadan airport upgrade because we understand its importance to our economy. We are funding it with our resources, and we will continue to invest in infrastructure that will benefit our people,” he said.
Makinde also dismissed suggestions that his administration had received support from the Federal Government for the project, noting that the state had not received any special intervention fund for the airport. He said the state government had been transparent in its management of resources and that the project was being executed with funds from the state’s treasury.
“We are not hiding anything. We have been transparent in our management of resources. The Ibadan airport project is being funded by the Oyo State Government, and we are proud of what we have achieved. We don’t need to claim credit for what we have not received,” he said.
The governor also addressed the ongoing political tension between him and the FCT Minister, noting that he had no personal issue with Wike but that he would not allow false statements about his administration’s record to go unchallenged. He said his focus remained on delivering good governance to the people of Oyo State.
“I have no personal problem with the FCT Minister. But I will not allow anyone to misrepresent the facts about what we are doing in Oyo State. We are focused on delivering the dividends of democracy to our people, and we will not be distracted by political distractions,” Makinde said.
He urged the people of Oyo State to disregard the claim, describing it as an attempt to undermine the achievements of his administration. He said his government would continue to prioritise infrastructure development, education, healthcare, and economic empowerment.
“We have a clear agenda for Oyo State, and we are implementing it. We are not going to be distracted by those who are trying to rewrite history. We will continue to work for the people of Oyo State, and we will deliver on our promises,” he said.
The Ibadan airport upgrade has been a major project of the Makinde administration, with the state government investing billions of naira in the rehabilitation and expansion of the facility. The project is expected to boost economic activity in the state and to improve connectivity to other parts of the country. For now, the governor’s message is clear: the project is being funded by the state, not the Federal Government, and his administration deserves credit for its achievements.
