Lagos is the only state in the southwest part of Nigeria that has an airport that is operational
Many passengers flying out of South-West Nigeria are stranded as a result of airport closures in Akure and Ibadan.
As a result of the extended shutdown of Akure and Ibadan airports, air travellers in the southwest area of Nigeria have been thrown into confusion, leaving many of them stranded and frustrated along the way.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) decided to close the Akure Airport, which serves Ondo and the states that are next to it, after a downpour that occurred on Monday evening caused significant damage to essential infrastructure.
In the meantime, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has declared that Ibadan Airport will be closed for a period of six months in order to undergo maintenance and upgrading work.
This indicates that Lagos is the only state in the southwest part of Nigeria that has an airport that is operational, which leaves a significant number of visitors stuck.
In light of the significant damage that was caused by a rainfall that swept through the facility on Monday evening, officials from FAAN disclosed that Akure Airport had been closed.
It was also declared by the NCAA that Ibadan Airport would be closed for a period of six months in order to make room for refurbishment and maintenance work.
It was announced on Friday by Michael Achimugu, who is the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection. He made the announcement using his X handle, adding, “Subject to new information, Ibadan airport may be shut down for six months for maintenance/upgrade, beginning from early March.”
Following the approval of plans by President Bola Tinubu to transform the Ibadan Domestic Airport, Alakia, into an international airport, this development came little about eight months later.
This information was provided previously by Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, who stated that the renovation would involve extending and widening the runway as well as strengthening amenities to accommodate international aircraft.
Furthermore, as part of this plan, a brand new international terminal is now being constructed.
Ibadan Airport was supposed to be transformed into a fully operational international gateway, and Governor Makinde made the announcement in January 2025 that the terminal was an essential step towards reaching this aim.
The first phase of the project began on September 18, 2024. Because of the inoperable status of two major airports in the southwest region, travellers are compelled to rely on alternative modes of transportation, mostly road travel, which comes with its own set of dangers due to the terrible condition of federal roads.