The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has announced that Samule Ladoke Akintola Airport will be temporarily closed for six months to allow maintenance and upgrade work.
The NCAA spokesperson, Michael Achimugu, disclosed this on Friday via his X handle, stating that the closure will begin in early March.
This development comes eight months after President Bola Tinubu approved the airport’s upgrade to international status. Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde had earlier revealed the federal government’s approval, highlighting plans for runway expansion, facility upgrades, and constructing a new international terminal.
In January 2025, Makinde reiterated the state’s commitment to transforming the airport, noting that the first phase of the upgrade—runway improvements, airport lighting enhancements, and fire service upgrades—was underway following the groundbreaking ceremony on September 18, 2024.
Once completed, the upgraded airport will facilitate international flights directly into Ibadan.
