Oyo State Governor and Allied Peoples Movement (APM) presidential candidate, Seyi Makinde, has disputed a claim by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, that President Bola Tinubu provided ₦50 billion to Oyo State for the upgrade of the Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport, Ibadan.
Wike had made the claim on Monday, September 21, 2026, during an appearance on TVC News’ Journalists’ Hangout, while discussing the support he said members of the former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) G5 governors had received from the Tinubu administration.
According to Wike, Tinubu provided ₦50 billion to support the expansion of the Ibadan airport, which is being upgraded to international standards.
However, Makinde has rejected the claim, saying his administration did not receive such funding from the Federal Government.
The governor said his attention was drawn to Wike’s interview and described the claim that Tinubu gave Oyo State ₦50 billion for the airport project as untrue.
“My attention was called to Wike’s interview yesterday, where he said President Tinubu gave ₦50 billion to Oyo State to upgrade the airport to an international airport. It’s all a lie. I did not receive any money for the airport upgrade. The upgrade of the airport is being undertaken 100% from the Oyo State Government’s pocket.”
The Oyo State Government has also publicly dismissed Wike’s claim, maintaining that the Federal Government’s approval for the airport upgrade was granted on the condition that the project would be undertaken without financial contribution from the Federal Government.
The dispute comes as the Oyo State Government continues work on the airport, including the construction of a new terminal as part of its plan to transform the facility into an international airport.
Makinde inspected the ongoing airport project earlier in September and said the upgrade was aimed at improving the facility’s capacity and connecting Oyo State more effectively to international markets.
The governor had also included the upgrade of the Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport to international standards among major infrastructure projects highlighted by his administration.
Wike’s claim and Makinde’s subsequent denial have now put the funding of the airport project at the centre of a fresh political disagreement between the two former members of the PDP G5.
While Wike maintains that the Tinubu administration provided ₦50 billion for the airport expansion, Makinde and the Oyo State Government say no such Federal Government funding was received for the project.
