Oyo State Governor and Allied Peoples Movement (APM) presidential candidate, Seyi Makinde, has refuted claims made by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, asserting that the Federal Government provided ₦50 billion to Oyo State for the upgrade of the Ladoke Akintola International Airport in Ibadan.
Addressing supporters and party stakeholders on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, during the Makinde/Daura 2027 Presidential Town Hall and North-West Consultative Meeting held at the Paragon Events Centre in Katsina, Governor Makinde clarified that the ongoing multi-billion naira airport project is being financed entirely by the Oyo State Government.
The controversy follows statements made by Wike on Monday, September 21, 2026, during a live appearance on TVC’s Journalists’ Hangout program.
Responding to questions regarding whether members of the former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) G5 governors were benefiting from the President Bola Tinubu-led administration, Wike alleged that Tinubu had approved and provided ₦50 billion in financial assistance to Makinde for the Ibadan airport redevelopment.
”President Tinubu provided ₦50 billion to support Oyo Governor Seyi Makinde’s plan to upgrade Oyo Airport into an international airport. So, it’s not correct to say I’m the only G5 governor benefiting from Tinubu’s government,” Wike had stated.
However, setting the record straight at the Katsina event, Governor Makinde labeled the minister’s statement as untrue and misleading.
”Before I go into a few things, let me start by saying that my attention was drawn to an interview granted yesterday by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, where he said that the President gave ₦50 billion to Oyo State to upgrade the Ibadan Airport to international standards,” Makinde told the audience.
”I want to say that claim is false. The President did not give me or Oyo State ₦50 billion to upgrade the Ibadan Airport. The Ibadan Airport upgrade project is being undertaken 100 per cent with the funds of Oyo State”.
The Ladoke Akintola International Airport redevelopment project was officially flagged off on September 18, 2024, after the state government awarded the ₦41 billion contract to Craneburg Construction Company.
While the Federal Government granted regulatory approvals for the facility’s conversion to international status, state officials reiterate that no federal financial disbursement accompanied the approval.
This latest public dispute reflects the growing political rift between the two former allies of the PDP G5 group ahead of the 2027 general elections, with Wike serving as a key political figure in the Tinubu administration and Makinde spearheading his own presidential campaign on the APM platform.
Neither the FCT Minister nor the Presidency has produced documentation to substantiate the ₦50 billion disbursement claim following Governor Makinde’s denial.
