Makinde Fires Back at Wike Over N50bn Ibadan Airport Claim

• Oyo State Governor and APM presidential candidate Seyi Makinde has rejected Nyesom Wike’s claim that the Federal Government provided N50bn for the upgrade of the Ibadan airport.

Governor Seyi Makinde has rejected a claim by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, that the Federal Government provided N50 billion to support the upgrade of the Ibadan International Airport.

Makinde, who is also the presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement, described the claim as false and maintained that the ongoing transformation of the Ladoke Akintola International Airport in Ibadan was being funded entirely by the Oyo State Government.

The governor spoke on Tuesday while addressing supporters and stakeholders at the Makinde/Daura 2027 Presidential Town Hall meeting in Katsina.

His response followed comments made by Wike on Monday during an appearance on TVC’s Journalists’ Hangout, where the FCT minister said President Bola Tinubu’s administration had supported Oyo State with N50bn for the airport upgrade.

Reacting to the claim, Makinde said no such payment was made to him or the Oyo State Government.

“I want to say that claim is false. The President did not give me or Oyo State N50 billion to upgrade the Ibadan Airport. The Ibadan Airport upgrade project is being undertaken 100 per cent with the funds of Oyo State.”

Makinde said his attention had been drawn to Wike’s interview before he addressed supporters at the town hall meeting.

The governor reiterated that the airport project was an initiative of his administration and was being executed with state resources.

The disagreement comes as work continues on the transformation of the Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport into an international facility. Makinde inspected the construction of a new terminal at the airport earlier in September, with the state government describing the project as part of efforts to improve the airport’s capacity and connect Oyo State to international markets.

Wike’s earlier account and Makinde’s response therefore present two conflicting claims over the source of funding for the airport upgrade. Wike has said the Federal Government provided N50bn, while Makinde says the state received no such money and is financing the project itself.

The dispute comes amid preparations for the 2027 presidential election, with Makinde campaigning as the APM presidential candidate.