The Federal Government, under the leadership of Tinubu, has issued a directive to the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to rename certain federal airports in honor of prominent Nigerians. The directive was conveyed through a memo from the Federal Ministry of Aviation, dated June 1, 2023, and addressed to all Head of Operations of FAAN.
The memo, signed by Mrs. Joke Olatunji, the Director of Airport Operations, was shared with The PUNCH on Monday. It states, “I am directed to refer to a memo with reference number FMA/T4464/7090/T7B/647 from FAAN regarding the naming of some federal airports after notable Nigerians.”
Previously, former President Muhammadu Buhari, towards the end of his administration, approved the renaming of 15 airports. This information was disclosed in a statement by Odutayo Oluseyi, the Head of Press and Public Affairs of the Ministry of Aviation, on May 29, 2023.
As per the new renaming initiative, the Port Harcourt Airport has been named after the late sage, Obafemi Jeremiah Awolowo, and the Maiduguri Airport has been renamed after Buhari. Furthermore, the Nasarawa Airport now immortalizes Sheikh Usman Danfodio, and the Ilorin Airport has been named after General Tunde Idiagbon.
The renaming list also includes the Benin Airport, which has been named after the late Oba of Benin, Oba Akenzua II, and the Ebonyi Airport, which now bears the name of the late Senate President Chuba Okadigbo. Additionally, the Ibadan Airport has been renamed after the late Premier of the old Western Region, Ladoke Akintola.
The complete list of renamed airports is as follows:
- 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
- Nasarawa Airport – Sheikh Usman Dan Fodio
- Osubi Airport – Alfred Diete Spiff
- Port Harcourt Airport – Obafemi Jeremiah Awolowo
- Yola Airport – Lamido Aliyu Mustapha
