Ladoke Akintola International Airport to begin international flight early 2026

Local flights will resume operations by the end of the year at the Ladoke Akintola International Airport, Ibadan.

The Oyo State Commissioner for Information, Prince Dotun Oyelade, who made the disclosure in a statement, on Monday, said activities are in top gear to upgrade the airport to International standard.

It would be recalled that the airport upgrade which was officially flagged off on September 18, 2024, was shut down in March 2025 to intensify work on the project.

Oyelade said the ongoing upgrade at the airport include extension of the runway from 2,400 meters to 3,000 meters, widening of the runway from 45 to 60 meters to accommodate  wide-body aircraft for International flights.

He noted that the airfield lighting system has been updated to CAT C standards and the fire-fighting response has been upgraded to ensure a robust safety profile.

He further hinted that facilities are being put in place for Customs, Immigration and other vital agencies to meet international standard.

The Commissioner said the runway upgrade, apron, taxiway, blast pads among others which currently stands at 55 per cent will be completed before the end of the year and local flights should resume thereafter subject to approval of the relevant regulatory authorities.

Oyelade said the International Terminal construction which currently is at 15 per cent completion will be ready by June 2026 for such flights.

He stated further that these upgrades reflect the government’s vision of transforming the Ibadan Airport into a modern and internationally competitive facility.

“By enhancing our infrastructure to accommodate larger aircraft, we are not only improving domestic connectivity but also paving the way for global travel”, he said.

He reiterated the promise of Governor Seyi Makinde that the next Hajj flight to Saudi Arabia next year will be from the airport.