Governor Seyi Makinde has disputed a claim by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike that the Federal Government released N50 billion to Oyo State for the upgrade of the Ibadan International Airport.
The Oyo State governor and presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples’ Movement (APM) spoke on Tuesday at the Makinde/Daura 2027 Presidential Town Hall meeting in Katsina.
According to Makinde, no N50 billion was received from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu or the Federal Government for the airport project.
Wike’s Claim
The controversy followed comments made by Nyesom Wike on TVC’s Journalists’ Hangout on Monday.
Wike reportedly said the Tinubu administration had supported Oyo State with N50 billion for the development of the Ibadan airport.
The claim has now been challenged by Makinde, who says the state government is solely responsible for financing the upgrade.
‘Oyo State Is Funding the Airport’
Responding to the statement, Makinde said the Federal Government did not provide him or the state with the money mentioned by Wike.
He described the claim as false and insisted that the airport project was being funded by Oyo State.
According to the governor:
“The President did not give me or Oyo State N50 billion to upgrade the Ibadan Airport.”
He further stated that the upgrade was being carried out entirely with state funds.
Premium Times and The Guardian reported the governor’s denial on Tuesday, September 22, 2026.
Airport Upgrade Continues
The dispute comes as work continues on the airport upgrade.
Recent reports indicate that Oyo State is constructing a new terminal building at the Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport as part of efforts to improve the facility and strengthen its international operations.
Makinde previously inspected the ongoing work and said the project was aimed at improving the airport’s capacity and connecting the state more effectively to global markets.
Funding Claims Remain Disputed
At present, the two sides have presented conflicting accounts of the source of funding for the airport upgrade.
Wike says the Federal Government provided N50 billion, while Makinde says Oyo State did not receive the money and is financing the project itself.
No independent evidence establishing the N50 billion transfer was identified in the reports reviewed for this story.
