Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has denied claims that the Federal Government gave his administration N50 billion to upgrade the Ladoke Akintola International Airport, Ibadan, insisting the project is being funded entirely by the state.
The governor’s clarification comes in response to comments made by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, who claimed during an appearance on TVC’s Journalists’ Hangout programme on Monday that the Bola Tinubu administration had supported Oyo State with the sum to upgrade the airport to international standards.
Speaking on Tuesday at the Makinde/Daura 2027 Presidential Town Hall meeting in Katsina, Makinde dismissed the claim outright.
“I want to say that claim is false,” he said. “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.”
The governor said he felt compelled to address the matter before delving into other issues raised at the Northwest consultative meeting.
“My attention was drawn to an interview granted yesterday by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, where he said that the President gave N50 billion to Oyo State to upgrade the Ibadan Airport to international standards,” Makinde said.
He noted that the Katsina gathering formed part of a broader Northwest consultative engagement, during which he and other stakeholders met with the presidential candidate to hear from residents of the region.
“We are here at the Northwest Consultative Meeting. We met with our candidate, stakeholders, and listened to you,” he added.
As of press time, Wike had not responded to Makinde’s rebuttal.
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