Scheduled commercial air flights have resumed at the Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport, Ibadan, following regulatory clearance by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
This marks a significant milestone in the airport’s ongoing transformation championed by the Governor Seyi Makinde led administration.
The approval was conveyed in a letter dated December 16, 2025, to the Managing Director/Chief Executive of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN). The approval according to the letter, the operational permit for scheduled flight operations at the facility is provisional.
This regulatory green light comes on the back of extensive infrastructure upgrades executed by the Oyo State Government to reposition the airport for international operations. The improvements include runway extension and widening, upgraded airfield lighting, installation of a 500,000-litre aviation fuel storage facility, and the construction of a modern protocol lounge, among other critical enhancements.
The NCAA said the decision followed a comprehensive review of safety-critical infrastructure, operational readiness, and mitigation measures at the aerodrome, as well as additional documentation provided by FAAN. The Authority noted that approval for non-scheduled flight operations had already been granted prior to this latest decision.
According to the regulatory body, the permit is issued in line with the provisions of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig. CARs) Part 12, Volume I (2023), and remains provisional, subject to strict adherence to stipulated conditions. These include the full activation and effectiveness of emergency response and safety arrangements at the airport.
The development repositions Ibadan, the Oyo state capital as a viable aviation hub in the South-West, improving connectivity, supporting economic activity, and reinforcing the state’s push to attract investment through enhanced transport infrastructure.
