By Joy Baba-Yesufu
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has announced that the Ibadan airport will be shut down for six months for maintenance and upgrade works to take place.
Michael Achimugu, Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection made this known on Friday via his X handle.
This announcement is coming barely eight months after the state 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 Bola Tinubu approved the move to upgrade the Ibadan Domestic Airport, Alakia, to an international airport. This development was made known by Seyi Makinde, the Oyo State Governor, 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 stated that construction of the new international terminal is part of efforts to upgrade the facility to international standards.
This development follows the ground-breaking ceremony held on September 18, 2024, for the first phase of the project.
