By Charles Adingupu
As part of his reforms in the aviation sector, the President Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government has renamed some federal airports after prominent Nigerians.
A memo by the Federal Ministry of Aviation dated 1 June, 2023, and endorsed by Mrs Joke Olatunji for the Director of Airport Operations contained the information.
The release stated that the president’s decision to rename the airports was “part of reforms of the Aviation sector”.
There are however indications that the decision to rename the airports may trigger fresh controversy in the aviation sector.
Stakeholders in the sector are yet to comment on this new development.
The Maiduguri Airport was renamed after the immediate past President, Muhammadu Buhari; the Port Harcourt Airport after the late nationalist Obafemi Awolowo; while the Nasarawa Airport now immortalises the late founder of the Sokoto Caliphate, Usman Dan Fodio.
Also, the Benin Airport was renamed after the late Oba of Benin, Oba Akenzua II, Ebonyi Airport is now named after the late Senate President Chuba Okadigbo, and the Ibadan Airport after 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 Akint
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
