Makinde Inaugurates Adekanbi Led 11-Man Airport Upgrade Project Committee

Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has officially inaugurated the Airport Upgrade Project Committee today, with a mandate to oversee upgrade of the facility to international standard.

Governor Makinde named former Oyo state Commissioner for Finance under former governor, Late Abiola Ajimobi, Mr Bimbo Adekanbi as the Chairman of the project committee.

Other members of the committee include Alhaji Kabir Yusuf, Wale Babalakin, Air Commodore Ajiboye, Wing Commander Onyedima, Squadron Leader Sheu, Engr. Ayo Opasanya, Arc. Wale Okubadejo, Arc. Oluyomi Onilude, Ms Seyi Akinbohun, and Mr Ademola Aderinto.

The ceremony, held on Tuesday, July 30 at the Execution Chamber of the Governor’s Office, State Secretariat, Agodi, in Ibadan.

According to Makinde, the official inauguration marks a significant step towards the development of the Ibadan airport now called Ladoke Akintola International Airport.

Recall that the governor had earlier last week assured that upon inauguration of the committee, it would ensure the project committee deliver on its assignment within 18 months.

Speaking further during the official inauguration, the governor stated that the committee would be playing a crucial role in making history with the project execution and urged members to bring their A game on board to ensure the project is a success.

Part of their immediate task include stakeholders engagement and preconstruction activities such as contractor selection and mobilisation, overseeing procurements, site clearing activities and ensuring that everything is ready for the project’s commencement.

“Today marks another important milestone in the history of Oyo State as we inaugurate the committee that will work towards the actualisation of the Ibadan Airport upgrade. They will start with the preliminary activities before the groundbreaking ceremony for an international standard airport in Ibadan.
We are all excited about this and for good reason.

“Our vision for investing on a second comparative advantage of our city to support the comparative advantage in agribusiness is coming together.

“Historically, Ibadan is a nodal city. It was a meeting point for commercial activities and also a stopover as people went to other parts of the country. If you take a look at the map pf Nigeria, you will see that Ibadan is a major entry point to Northern Nigeria and even some other states of the southwest.

“We have preliminary data to support this move but part of the work this committee will be doing is providing us with the definite numbers through a comprehensive passenger data analysis and ensuring that all the groundwork is laid to fulfil requirements for building an international airport as stipulated by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA). They will also be carrying out all other stakeholder engagements needed to make this project a success.

“Other vital roles they will be playing include: preconstruction activities such as contractor selection and mobilisation, overseeing procurements, site clearing activities and ensuring that everything is ready for the project’s commencement. Thereafter, they will continue to oversee the execution of the project until it is completed.

“The decision to convert our exiting local airport into an international airport was not a hasty one, we are not engaged in a let-me-do-this-because-other-governors-are -doing-it-competition. This is a well thought out decision based on science, logic and data.

“This vision is already four years old and we laid the groundwork in our first tenure We have completed the 500,000-litre aviation fuel storage and dispensing facility which has been concessioned to Bovas Group. We have also upgraded part of the facilities which increased the number of airlines including Ibadan in their flight schedules.

“As I said earlier in my newsletter on this issue, this is a strategic investment and posterity will smile on us for opting to upgrade the Ibadan Airport Alakia to an international airport.
We have put together a team of people with the required expertise to deliver on this project.

“Mr Bimbo Adekanmbi, a former Commissioner for Finance in Oyo State will chair this committee.
Alhaji Kabir Yusuf, a former Managing Director of Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Dr Wale Babalakin, an entrepreneur and legal luminary who has done this in the past.

“We also have three officers from the Nigerian Air Force on this committee;
Air Commodore Ajiboye, an expert in airport management, airport operational efficiency and security. Wing Commander Onyedima, an expert in runway construction and maintenance
Squadron Leader Sheu, currently studying for his PhD in Transportation Engineering.

Present at the event were the Secretary to the state government, Professor Olanike Adeyemo, Head of Service; Mrs Olubumi Oni MNi, other members of the state executive Council, and former Speaker of Oyo state House of Assembly, and Senator Monsurat Sunmonu.