Makinde denies Wike’s claim that Tinubu gave Oyo N50bn for Ibadan airport

Oyo State Governor and APM presidential candidate, Seyi Makinde, has disputed the claim by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike that President Bola Tinubu gave Oyo State N50 billion for the upgrade of the Ibadan Airport.

Makinde said the claim was false and maintained that the ongoing upgrade of the Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport was being funded 100 per cent by the Oyo State Government.

The governor spoke on Tuesday during the APM North-West town hall meeting in Katsina, held as part of preparations for the 2027 general election.

The controversy followed comments by Wike during his appearance on TVC’s Journalists’ Hangout on Monday.

“President Tinubu provided N50 billion to support Oyo Governor Seyi Makinde’s plan to upgrade Oyo Airport into an international airport. So, it’s not correct to say I’m the only G5 governor benefiting from Tinubu’s government,” Wike said.

Makinde, however, rejected the statement, saying the Federal Government had not provided the alleged N50 billion.

“My attention was called to an interview granted yesterday by the Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike, where he said that the President gave N50 billion to Oyo State or to me to upgrade the airport in Ibadan to international standards.

“I want to say that claim is false. The President did not give N50 billion to me or to Oyo State to upgrade the Ibadan Airport. The airport upgrade project is being undertaken 100 per cent with the money of Oyo State,” he said.

The governor commenced the airport upgrade in September 2024 at an initial cost of N41 billion.

The domestic terminal was completed in October 2025, while construction work on the international terminal, including customs and immigration facilities, is still underway.

The Oyo State Government has separately maintained that the Federal Government approved the project on the condition that it would not incur any cost on the federal purse.

Wike was appointed FCT minister by Tinubu in August 2023 and has publicly backed the President’s bid for a second term.

Both Wike and Makinde were members of the G5 governors who opposed Atiku Abubakar’s presidential bid in the 2023 election amid the crisis within the PDP. The other members were then-Benue Governor Samuel Ortom, former Enugu Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and former Abia Governor Okezie Ikpeazu.

Wike had contested the PDP presidential primary alongside Atiku and 12 other aspirants, securing 237 votes against Atiku’s 371.

Makinde has since fallen out with Wike and moved away from the G5 alignment, particularly over Wike’s support for Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid.

He is currently the presidential candidate of the APM for the 2027 election.

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