The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has refuted reports that Ibadan Airport will be shut down for six months for maintenance and upgrade works.
The agency’s spokesperson, Michael Achimugu, clarified the situation on Friday, stating that his earlier social media post was misinterpreted by some journalists.
Reports emerged earlier, citing Achimugu’s post on X (formerly Twitter), where he mentioned that Ibadan Airport “may be shut down for six months for maintenance/upgrade, starting from early March.” Several media outlets interpreted this as an official announcement of a shutdown.
However, Achimugu has now distanced himself from such claims, expressing disappointment over how his post was reported. In a follow-up statement on X, he said, “I don’t understand how any journalist would take this post and caption it, ‘NCAA SHUTS DOWN IBADAN AIRPORT.’ My post never said so.”
The clarification comes amid ongoing efforts to upgrade the Ibadan Domestic Airport, Alakia, to international status. In June 2024, President Bola Tinubu approved the project, following a request by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde.
The governor had also reiterated in January 2025 that the upgrade includes the construction of a new international terminal and improvements such as runway expansion, airport lighting enhancements, and fire service upgrades.
In a short video clip online, the governor said, “The President has graciously approved my request for the upgrade of Ibadan Airport to an international airport.”
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.
