The Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, has laid the foundation for the new international terminal at Samuel Ladoke Akintola International Airport, Ibadan, as part of efforts to upgrade the facility to international standards.
According to a statement released on Friday by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Dotun Oyelade, this marks the second phase of the airport’s transformation, following the commencement of runway and infrastructure upgrades last year.
This development follows the groundbreaking ceremony held on 18 September, 2024 for the first phase of the project.
At that time, Makinde outlined that the upgrade would be completed in two major stages: the first phase, which is already underway, includes runway improvements, airport lighting upgrades, and fire service enhancements.
The second phase involves the construction of the new international terminal and other related infrastructure.
Describing Governor Makinde as a “promise keeper,” Oyelade noted that once completed, the airport will offer international flight options for residents of Oyo and neighbouring states, facilitating travel to destinations worldwide.
The foundation stone was laid by the Chairman of the Samuel Ladoke Akintola International Airport Upgrade Committee, Abimbola Adekanbi, on behalf of Makinde.
Adekanbi hailed the project as a significant milestone in the state’s history, driven by the governor’s visionary leadership.
Adekanbi stated, ‘In September 2024, we marked the beginning of this ambitious transformation with the extension of the runway to 3,000 metres, meeting international standards and regulatory requirements to accommodate larger aircraft.
‘We are proud of the progress made thus far, but today, we take another giant leap forward with the foundation-laying of the new terminal building, a crucial component of our upgrade plan.
‘Once completed, this state-of-the-art terminal building will accommodate up to one million passengers annually, a massive increase from the current capacity of 100,000.
‘The project, which will be delivered by Craneburg Construction Company Limited, is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2026.
‘This will not only ease the flow of passengers but will also boost the airport’s cargo handling capacity, positioning Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport as a top-tier facility in Nigeria.’
Representatives from various airlines and stakeholders attended the foundation-laying ceremony.
