Ibadan airport to close for 6 months for upgrade -NCAA

By Chinelo Obogo

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has announced a six-month closure of Ibadan Airport beginning in early March to facilitate comprehensive maintenance and upgrade works.

In a statement shared via his X (formerly Twitter) handle on Friday, NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, said the decision was necessary in order to carry out the necessary maintenance.

He said: “Subject to new information, Ibadan airport may be shut down for six months for maintenance/upgrade, starting from early March.”

This temporary closure comes just eight months after President Bola Tinubu approved the upgrade of the facility into an international airport.

Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde previously confirmed the president’s approval last June, explaining that the ambitious upgrade project would include expansion and extension of the runway, comprehensive enhancement of existing facilities and infrastructure improvements to accommodate international flights

A ground-breaking ceremony was held on September 18, 2024, to mark the commencement of the first phase. And in January 2025, Governor Makinde confirmed that construction of the new international terminal was underway.