In a significant development in Nigeria’s aviation sector, President Bola Tinubu and his government have announced the renaming of several federal airports.
The decision, aimed at honoring notable Nigerians and their contributions to the country, was made public through a memo issued by the Federal Ministry of Aviation on June 1, 2023.
The memo, signed by Joke Olatunji on behalf of the Director of Airport Operations, was made available to Channels Television on Monday, June 26, 2023.
This renaming initiative is part of the government’s ongoing reforms in the aviation sector, wto paypromoteo influential individuals and promoting their lasting legacies. Various figures from different fields have been chosen to have airports named after them, immortalizing their significant contributions to Nigeria’s development.
Among the airports that have been renamed, the Maiduguri Airport in Borno State now bears the name of the immediate past President Muhammadu Buhari.
The Port Harcourt Airport in Rivers State has been dedicated to the late nationalist Obafemi Awolowo, while the Nasarawa Airport is now named in honor of Usman Dan Fodio, the esteemed founder of the Sokoto Caliphate.
This renaming initiative extends beyond these airports, encompassing other airports across the country as well. For instance, the Benin Airport in Edo State has been renamed in tribute to the late Oba Akenzua II, recognizing his remarkable contributions to the region.
The Ebonyi Airport, situated in Ebonyi State, pays tribute to the late Senate President Chuba Okadigbo. The Ibadan Airport, in Oyo State, has been renamed after the late Premier of the old Western Region, Ladoke Akintola.
Here is the full list of renamed airports:
- Akure Airport – Olumuyiwa Bernard Aliu
- Benin Airport – Oba Akenzua II
- Dutse Airport – Muhammad Nuhu Sanusi
- Ebonyi Airport – Chuba Wilberforce Okadigbo
- Gombe Airport – Brigadier Zakari Maimalari
- Ibadan Airport – Samuel Ladoke Akintola
- Ilorin Airport – Gen. Tunde Idiagbon
- Kaduna Airport – Hassan Usman Katsina
- Maiduguri Airport – Gen. Muhammadu Buhari
- Makurdi Airport – Joseph Sarwuan Tarka
- Minna Airport – Mallam Abubakar Imam
- Nassarawa Airport – Sheikh Usman Dan Fodio
- Osubi Airport – Alfred Diete Spiff
- Port Harcourt Airport – Obafemi Jeremiah Awolowo
- Yola Airport – Lamido Aliyu Mustapha
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