The Airport Manager of the Ibadan Airport recently renamed to Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport, Otunba Ojo Afolabi Adedeji says, plans are not on by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN to start Hajj airlift of Pilgrims from Ibadan Airport.
Otunba Adedeji stated this in a statement as issued by the Public Affairs department against the backdrop of recent reports in the social media which quoted him as saying that airlift of pilgrims would begin from the airport soon when he and his Management paid a courtesy visit to the Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Lekan Balogun on Thursday 20th July,2023 at his Alarere Residence.
According to him, his visit to the palace is to pay homage to the king being the first time since his ascension to the throne last year.
During the visit, the Olubadan of Ibadan land sought to know when the Airport will be upgraded to an International Airport, the Airport manager in his response said, the airlift of Pilgrims to the holy land would begin soon from the Airport.
Otunba Adedeji did not give specific date or year when this would happened.
“Very soon, Hajj airlifts may begin in Ibadan Airport”.
He also ceased the opportunity to applaud the state Governor Engr. Seyi Makinde for his tremendous contribution towards upgrading the Airport.
The Ibadan Airport Manager also explained to the monarch the many intervention projects handled by the state Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde to uplift facilities within and around the airport.
These he listed to include, 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.
“Mr. Seyi Makinde has done a lot to improve the Airport, which includes, realization of the road leading to the Airport, the building of farm tanks for aircraft to fuel at the Airport and doing a lot to ensure the airlifts of Pilgrims begin at the Airport”.
He emphasized that, the FAAN management did not leave all developmental projects to the Oyo state government to handle, adding that FAAN management had just installed a dedicated 33KVA power supply transformer to the airport, embarked on building a security house to protect airside equipments and the airport facilities and human beings in and around the airport.
On the request for land space to build an international market as inquired by the Iyaloja General of Oyo state, Otunba Adedeji said, he will contact the FAAN Managing Director and the Director Airport Operations on that, adding that, certain things have to be put in place, like parking space and the systematic handling of vehicles and humans.
The Management of Ibadan Airport led by the Airport Manager, Otunba Ojo Afolabi Adedeji were welcomed by the Olubadan of Ibadan land and the king gave them his blessings as the Royal father and owner of the land.
