Ibadan’s drive to become an international aviation gateway is entering its final stretch, with the new terminal at Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport nearing completion and the Oyo State Government targeting commissioning before the end of the year.
The terminal, being constructed by Craneburg Construction Limited, is designed to handle at least one million passengers annually and forms the centrepiece of an airport upgrade aimed at enabling the facility to handle larger aircraft and international passenger and cargo traffic.
Governor Seyi Makinde disclosed the timeline after inspecting the project recently, saying the contractor was working towards completing and commissioning the terminal before year-end.
The development is expected to strengthen Ibadan’s position within the South-West aviation network by providing an additional gateway for international traffic and reducing the dependence of travellers in Oyo and neighbouring states on airports outside the region.
The terminal project is being implemented alongside upgrades to the airport’s airside infrastructure and runway, with the improvements designed to expand the facility’s operational capacity and enable it to accommodate larger aircraft.
The state government has also stepped up supporting infrastructure ahead of the proposed international operations, including the recent commencement of construction of a 400,000-litre elevated water tank at the airport.
Makinde, during the inspection, reviewed progress on the terminal and other components of the airport upgrade as the state moves towards completing the facility and securing the necessary clearances for international operations.
The one-million-passenger annual capacity gives the project a potentially significant role in expanding aviation connectivity around Ibadan, one of Nigeria’s largest urban centres, while creating additional capacity for passenger and cargo movements across the wider South-West.
The upgrade is also intended to improve the airport’s ability to support commercial aviation beyond its existing operations, with the runway expansion and airside works expected to be critical to accommodating larger aircraft.
For travellers in Oyo and surrounding states, the completion of the project could reduce the need to travel to airports outside the immediate region for international connections, while giving airlines an additional entry point into the South-West market.
The cargo component is also projected to elevate the airport’s economic relevance by improving access for businesses seeking to move goods by air, although the scale of such operations will depend on airline interest, regulatory approvals, infrastructure readiness and sustained passenger demand.
Once completed and cleared for operations, the upgraded airport is expected to provide Ibadan with greater aviation capacity while supporting the state’s ambition of strengthening connectivity, trade and economic activity across the South-West.
