IBADAN: Oyo State Acting Governor, Abdulraheem Lawal, has announced that the ongoing upgrade of the Samuel Ladoke Akintola International Airport in Ibadan will be ready for take-off and landing within the next two to three weeks.
Lawal also disclosed that the first segment of the Senator Rashidi Ladoja Circular Road project will be delivered in two to three months.
Speaking during an inspection tour of both projects on Monday, the Acting Governor described them as “legacy projects that align with Governor Seyi Makinde’s vision of expanding Oyo’s economy through massive infrastructure investment.
According to him, the airport upgrade is already 75–76 percent complete, with the major runway finished and awaiting final touches such as runway markings, installation of instrument landing systems, and additional safety works.
He assured that once completed, the facility would meet international aviation standards.
By assessment and expert opinion, the airport will be ready for landing and takeoff in the next two or three weeks.
This is a major accomplishment. The contractors are on track, and government will continue to provide adequate funding to ensure timely completion, Lawal said.
On the 32.5km East Wing of the Circular Road, Lawal expressed satisfaction with the pace and quality of work, highlighting the construction of hydraulic bridges, culverts, and other civil engineering structures.
He added that the project would transform Ibadan’s transport system and boost economic activity in Oyo State.
Responding to questions on whether the airport would be ready for use during the upcoming Olubadan coronation event, the Acting Governor declined to preempt contractors but confirmed that multiple quality assurance tests had shown the runway meets international standards.
The Ibadan airport, renamed Samuel Ladoke Akintola International Airport, was budgeted at N41 billion and unveiled in 2024 with a 12-month completion target.
Lawal emphasized that both projects remain top priorities for the Makinde administration, assuring that the airport would be delivered within one month, while the Circular Road would be completed before the year’s end.
