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Oyo State Governor and Allied People’s Movement presidential candidate, Seyi Makinde, has denied claims by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, that the Federal Government provided N50 billion to support the upgrade of the Ladoke Akintola International Airport in Ibadan.
Makinde stated his position on Tuesday while addressing supporters and stakeholders at the 2027 Makinde/Daura Presidential Town Hall meeting in Katsina. The response report was published on Tuesday, September 22, 2026.
The controversy follows comments reportedly made by Wike while appearing on *Journalist’s Hangout* TVC on Monday, where the FCT minister said President Bola Tinubu’s government had provided N50 billion to support the airport project.
Makinde, however, rejected the claim, stating that the ongoing transformation of Ibadan airport was fully funded by the Oyo State Government.
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Speaking at a meeting in Katsina, the governor said he had been briefed on Wike’s comments before responding to them.
“We’re here at the Northwest Consultative Assembly. We’re meeting with our candidates, stakeholders, and listening to you.
“But before I get into some things, let me start by saying that my attention was drawn to an interview given yesterday by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, where he said that the President gave N50 billion to Oyo State to upgrade Ibadan Airport to international standards.
“I want to say that the claim is false. The President did not give me or Oyo State N50 billion to upgrade Ibadan Airport. The Ibadan Airport upgrade project was done 100 percent with funds from Oyo State.”
The dispute comes as Makinde’s campaign organization begins a series of zonal-level town hall meetings ahead of the 2027 general elections, with the North-West meeting taking place in Katsina.
Therefore, the governor’s latest statement directly contradicts Wike’s statement regarding the Federal Government’s support for the airport project, leaving the two political figures with different opinions regarding the source of funding for the ongoing upgrade.
