News

Funding Ibadan Airport Upgrade: Makinde refutes Wike’s ₦50bn claim

Spread the love

The Presidential Candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) and Oyo State Governor, Mr. Seyi Makinde, has refuted a claim by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, that President Bola Tinubu provided ₦50 billion to support the upgrade of the Ibadan Airport.

Makinde made this known on Tuesday at the APM North-West Town Hall Meeting at the Paragon Events Centre in Katsina, where he said the Ibadan Airport upgrade project was being funded entirely by the Oyo State Government.

The governor said his attention was drawn to comments made by Wike during a television interview, in which the FCT Minister reportedly said Tinubu provided ₦50 billion to assist Oyo State with upgrading the airport to international standards.

Makinde rejected the claim, saying the Federal Government did not provide the funds for the project.

“Before I go into say a few things, let me start by saying that, my attention was drawn to an interview granted yesterday by the minister of the FCT, minister Nyesom Wike where he said that, the president gives ₦50 billion to Oyo State or to me to upgrade the Oyo airport in Ibadan to international standard. I want to say that that claim is false.

“The president did not give ₦50 billion to me or N50 billion to Oyo State to upgrade the Ibadan airport. Ibadan airport upgrade project is being undertaking 100 percent with the money of Oyo State”, he said.

The APM candidate also used the Katsina engagement to present the party’s “Reset Nigeria Agenda”, a policy framework he said was designed to address the country’s economic, educational, security and governance challenges.

Makinde, who is seeking to contest the 2027 presidential election, said the North-West town hall was part of the party’s nationwide consultations aimed at engaging Nigerians ahead of the polls.

He said his proposed administration would focus on building a productive economy through investment in entrepreneurship, skills development, knowledge and large-scale production, arguing that Nigeria must move beyond dependence on natural resources.

According to him, a competitive economy must be driven by innovation and productivity capable of sustaining businesses and creating opportunities for citizens.