Seyi Makinde denies ₦50bn federal funding claim for Ibadan airport

Seyi Makinde, the Oyo State Governor and Allied Peoples Movement (APM) presidential candidate for 2027, has denied claims made by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike regarding the funding of the Ibadan International Airport upgrade. Wike previously asserted that President Bola Tinubu provided ₦50 billion to support the project. Makinde refuted this, stating the upgrade of the Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport is being funded 100 per cent by the Oyo State Government.

During a series of political engagements and town hall meetings in Katsina, Makinde also outlined his ‘Reset Nigeria’ agenda. His platform focuses on four pillars: economic reform, education, security, and socio-political development. Key proposals include the devolution of powers from the federal government to states, specifically regarding mining oversight and community policing, to better address localized insecurity.

Additionally, Makinde addressed constitutional matters, pledging that if elected president, he would strictly adhere to Section 145 of the Constitution by formally transmitting power to the Vice President during vacations or periods of incapacity. In Oyo State, the political landscape is shifting as members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have begun defecting to the APM, a move Makinde claims signals a growing momentum for his party ahead of the 2027 elections.