The Manager of Ibadan Airport recently renamed to Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport, Otunba Ojo Afolabi Adedeji has debunked a fake news that FAAN has assured intending Hajji Pilgrims that they would be airlifted from Ibadan Airport,instead of Lagos in 2024.
Otunba Ojo through his Public Affairs department denied the news and described it to being misquoted and misinterpreted.
The Management of Ibadan Airport paid a courtesy visit to the Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Lekan Balogun on Thursday 20th July,2023 at his Alarere Residence with the intention of paying homage to the king being the first time since his ascension of the throne last year.
Upon the visit, the Olubadan of Ibadan land asked when the Airport will be upgraded to an International Airport, the Airport manager in his response explained that the Pilgrims to the holy lands in Saudi Arabia may soon be airlifted from the Ibadan Airport. This response shows that the Airport Manager never made an affirmative statement that Hajji Pilgrims will be airlifted from Ibadan Airport instead of Lagos in 2024.
Going forward , he also ceased the opportunity to applaud the state Governor Engineer Seyi Makinde for his tremendous contribution towards upgrading the Airport.
The manager in his explanation made it known to the monarch the many intervention projects handled by the state Governor, Eng. Seyi Makinde to uplift facilities within and around the airport, which includes the building of a fuel farm tank, which means aircrafts can stop over for refuelling and sleep over in the Airport, the governor also separated protocol lounge from VIP lounge, which hitherto, were in the same place, also the dualisation of the airport has been completed, by the governor, his next promise and on his priority list is the elongation and extension of the runway and apron.
The manager further said “very soon, Hajj airlifts may begin in Ibadan Airport. The state Governor, Mr. Seyi Makinde has done a lot to improve the Airport. He dualised the road leading to the Airport, he built farm tanks for aircraft to fuel at the Airport and he has been doing a lot to ensure tha airlifts of Pilgrims begin at the Airport”. It is apparently a wrong claim, that the manager said if, Hajj operation starts in Ibadan, Lagos uplifting will stop.
The Airport manager buttressed his claims by saying he does not have such power and never said that.
On the issue of having a place to build international market as asked by the Iyaloja general of Oyo state, the Airport Manager’s response was that he will contact the MD and the DAO on that, that so many things must be put into consideration, e .g. parking space,queueing systematic of handling vehicles, an human.
The Airport Manager however continued that FAAN management did not leave all developmental projects to the Oyo state government to handle, FAAN management has just installed a dedicated 33KVA power supply transformer to the airport, and also embarked on building a security house to protect airside equipments and the airport facilities and human beings in and around the airport.
The Management of Ibadan Airport led by the Airport Manager, Otunba Ojo Afolabi Adedeji was wholeheartedly welcome by the Olubadan of Ibadan land and the king gave them his blessings as the Royal father and owner of the land.