The Oyo State Government has rejected the claim by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, that the Federal Government provided ₦50 billion to the state for the upgrade of the Ibadan Airport, describing the assertion as unsupported by official records.
The government’s position was conveyed by the Special Adviser to Governor Seyi Makinde on Media, Dr Sulaimon Olanrewaju, who said the alleged ₦50 billion funding was neither an official Federal Government communication nor backed by documentation.
Olanrewaju explained that funding for aviation infrastructure is processed through established due-process channels involving the Federal Ministry of Aviation and relevant regulatory authorities, adding that such transactions are transparent, traceable and subject to public verification.
According to him, none of the available records reflects a ₦50 billion Federal Government disbursement to Oyo State for the Ibadan Airport project.
He said the state government would not allow what it described as misinformation about public finances to be deployed for political point-scoring or to distort public understanding of the airport project.
“Let it be stated unambiguously: The Federal Government did not give Oyo State ₦50 billion for the Ibadan Airport upgrade,” Olanrewaju said, urging public officials to exercise restraint and support financial claims with verifiable evidence.
The clarification followed reports of Wike’s assertion that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had provided the funds to support the airport’s upgrade.
Olanrewaju consequently urged members of the public to disregard the claim, insisting that the state remained committed to transparency, accountability and factual communication on government projects and finances.
