President Bola Tinubu has renamed some airports owned by the federal government after political leaders and other prominent Nigerians.
The renaming of the airports was announced in a memo released by the Federal Ministry of Aviation dated June 1, 2023, and signed by Mrs Joke Olatunji for the Director of Airport Operations yesterday.
The memo stated, “I am directed to refer to a memo with reference number, FMA/T4464/7090/17B/647 dated1st June, 2023 from the Federal Ministry of Aviation on the naming of some federal airports after notable Nigerian.
“Please, kindly be informed that underlisted airports have been renamed by the President as part of reforms of the aviation sector as shown.”
The memo indicated that the Maiduguri Airport was renamed after the immediate past President Muhammadu Buhari and the Port Harcourt Airport after the late nationalist, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, while the Nasarawa Airport immortalised 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 after the late Senate President Chuba Okadigbo, and the Ibadan Airport after the late Premier of the old Western Region, Ladoke Akintola.
The list was as follows: Akure Airport – Olumuyiwa Bernard Aliu; Benin Airport – Oba Akenzua II; Dutse Airport – Muhammad Nuhu Sanusi; Ebonyi Airport – Chuba Wilberforce Okadigbo; Ibadan Airport – Samuel Ladoke Akintola and Ilorin Airport – Gen. Tunde Idiagbon.
Others are Kaduna Airport – Hassan Usman Katsina; Maiduguri Airport – Gen. Mumammadu Buhari; Makurdi Airport – Joseph Sarwuan Tarka; Minna Airpor – Mallam Abubakar Imam; Nassarawa Airport – Sheikh Usman Dan Fodio; Osubi Airport – Alfred Diete Spiff; Port Harcourt Airport – Obafemi Jeremiah Awolowo and Yola Airport – Lamido Aliyu Mustapha.
