Oyo State Governor and Allied Peoples Movement presidential candidate Seyi Makinde has rejected a claim by Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike that President Bola Tinubu provided N50 billion to support the upgrade of the Ibadan airport.
Makinde described Wike’s claim as false, insisting that the airport upgrade is being funded entirely by the Oyo State Government. The governor spoke on Tuesday, September 22, during the APM North-West town hall meeting in Katsina, organised as part of the party’s campaign activities ahead of the 2027 general election.
Wike had said during an appearance on TVC’s Journalists’ Hangout on Monday, September 21, that Tinubu provided N50 billion to support Makinde’s plan to upgrade the airport to international standards.
“President Tinubu provided N50 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 said.
Responding to the claim, Makinde said no such payment was made to him or the Oyo State Government.
“My attention was called to an interview granted yesterday by the Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike, where he said that the President gave N50 billion to Oyo State or to me to upgrade the airport in Ibadan to international standards,” Makinde said.
“I want to say that claim is false. The President did not give N50 billion to me or to Oyo State to upgrade the Ibadan Airport. The airport upgrade project is being undertaken 100 per cent with the money of Oyo State.” Multiple reports of Makinde’s remarks confirm that he publicly disputed Wike’s account and maintained that the state is solely financing the project.Makinde flagged off the upgrade of the Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport in September 2024 at an initial cost of N41 billion. The domestic terminal upgrade was completed in October 2025, while work on the full international terminal, including customs and immigration facilities, remains ongoing.
The disagreement comes amid growing political differences between Makinde and Wike ahead of the 2027 presidential election. Both men were members of the G5 group of Peoples Democratic Party governors who opposed Atiku Abubakar’s presidential campaign in the 2023 election.
The other members were then-Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom, former Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and former Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu. Wike contested the 2022 PDP presidential primary but finished second with 237 votes, behind Atiku, who received 371 votes. Wike was appointed FCT minister by Tinubu in August 2023 and has since backed the president’s bid for a second term.
Makinde, meanwhile, is now the APM presidential candidate for the 2027 election and has broken ranks politically with Wike. The dispute over the N50 billion remains a disagreement between the two politicians: Wike says the Tinubu administration provided the support, while Makinde says neither he nor Oyo State received the money for the airport project.
