The Oyo State Government has rejected a claim attributed to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, that the Federal Government provided N50 billion for the reconstruction and upgrade of the Ladoke Akintola International Airport in Ibadan.
The state government, through the Special Adviser to Governor Seyi Makinde on Media, Dr Sulaimon Olanrewaju, described the claim as inaccurate.
Olanrewaju was reacting to comments reportedly made by Wike during a television programme on Monday, in which the minister said President Bola Tinubu had released about N50 billion to support the airport project.
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According to the state government, the Federal Government’s approval for the airport upgrade was granted on the condition that the project would be executed without financial commitments from the Federal Government.
Olanrewaju said documentation relating to the approval was available to both the Presidency and the Oyo State Government, adding that the state had independently financed the comprehensive upgrade of the airport.
He listed the projects undertaken to include the expansion and strengthening of the runway, rehabilitation of airfield lighting and navigational systems, improvement of the airport apron and installation of additional aviation safety infrastructure.
He also noted that the state had undertaken the dualisation of the Airport Road and was currently constructing a new international terminal at the airport.
The governor’s aide further argued that Wike’s claim was not backed by any Federal Executive Council (FEC) decision, presidential approval or established statutory process for funding aviation infrastructure.
According to him, funding for such projects ordinarily passes through established due-process channels involving the Federal Ministry of Aviation and relevant regulatory authorities.
Olanrewaju accused the minister of making an unsubstantiated statement that could mislead the public and create a distorted impression about the financing of the airport project.
He reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to transparency and accountability, while urging public officials to exercise caution when making statements about government projects and public finances.
He said the state would not allow what it described as misinformation to be used for political purposes or to misrepresent the government’s financial commitments.
“The Oyo State Government will not allow misinformation, especially one of this magnitude, to be weaponised for political point scoring or used to distort public understanding of government finances,” Olanrewaju said.
“The federal government did not give Oyo State N50 billion for the Ibadan Airport upgrade. Any suggestion to the contrary is a fabrication and a lie from the pit of hell.”
