President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has recently implemented a significant renaming initiative for several federal airports in Nigeria.
This development was officially announced through a memo issued by the Federal Ministry of Aviation on June 1, 2023. Mrs. Joke Olatunji, acting on behalf of the Director of Airport Operations, signed the memorandum on Monday, June 26, 2023.
According to the statement, these airport name changes are part of a comprehensive reform strategy aimed at revitalizing the aviation sector.
Notably, the Port Harcourt Airport now bears the name of the late nationalist Obafemi Awolowo. The Nasarawa Airport has been chosen to immortalize the revered founder of the Sokoto Caliphate, Usman Dan Fodio.
Furthermore, the renaming efforts extended to other airports across the country. The Benin Airport now proudly carries the name of the late Oba of Benin, Oba Akenzua II. Similarly, the Ebonyi Airport has been dedicated to the memory of the late Senate President Chuba Okadigbo. Also, the Maiduguri Airport has been renamed in honour of the immediate past President Muhammadu Buhari.
Lastly the Ibadan Airport stands as a tribute to the late Premier of the old Western Region, Ladoke Akintola.
See the full list below:
1. Akure Airport – Olumuyiwa Bernard Aliu
2. Benin Airport – Oba Akenzua II
3. Dutse Airport – Muhammad Nuhu Sanusi
4. Ebonyi Airport – Chuba Wilberforce Okadigbo
5. Gombe Airport – Brigadier Zakari Maimalari
6. Ibadan Airport – Samuel Ladoke Akintola
7. Ilorin Airport – Gen. Tunde Idiagbon
8. Kaduna Airport – Hassan Usman Katsina
9. Maiduguri Airport – Gen. Mumammadu Buhari
10. Makurdi Airport – Joseph Sarwuan Tarka
11. Minna Airpor – Mallam Abubakar Imam
12. Nassarawa Airport – Sheikh Usman Dan Fodio
13. Osubi Airport – Alfred Diete Spiff
14. Port Harcourt Airport – Obafemi Jeremiah Awolowo
15. Yola Airport – Lamido Aliyu Mustapha.