Ibadan airport to close for six months amid major upgrades

• Published On: 01 March 2025 at 21:29

Michael Achimugu, Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, has announced that Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport in Ibadan will close for six months beginning in March 2025 to allow for essential infrastructure upgrades aimed at improving operational safety and efficiency.

Achimugu confirmed this in a statement posted on his official X (formerly Twitter) account on Friday.

According to Achimugu, the proposed closure is necessary to complete critical infrastructure upgrades aimed at improving the airport's operational safety and efficiency.

"Subject to new information, Ibadan airport may be shut down for six months for maintenance/upgrade, starting from early March," according to a tweet.

Although specifics of the upgrade have not been revealed, the six-month timeline indicates a significant infrastructure overhaul.

The planned six-month closure coincides with the Oyo State Government's August 2024 proposal to expand and upgrade Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport, with the goal of transforming it into an international hub.

The Oyo State Government has unveiled an ambitious plan to expand and upgrade Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport, with the goal of transforming it into an international facility.

This project is part of a larger plan to improve the state's aviation infrastructure and position Ibadan as a major aviation hub.

On August 12, 2024, a delegation from the Oyo State Committee on the Airport Expansion Project, led by Mr. Bimbo Adekambi and former FAAN Managing Director, Mr. Kabir Mohammed, met with Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, Managing Director/Chief Executive of FAAN, to discuss the initiative.

Their discussions centered on Governor Makinde's proposal to upgrade the airport to international standards, which would benefit both domestic and international travel.

This initiative reflects a broader trend of Nigerian states improving their aviation sectors.