The Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria has been instructed by President Bola Tinubu to rename various federal airports in honor of illustrious Nigerians.
This was stated in a memo from the Federal Ministry of Aviation dated June 1, 2023, sent to every Head of Operations of FAAN and headlined “Naming of Federal Airports in Favor of Some Prominent Nigerians.”
I am asked to refer to a letter with reference number, FMA/T4464/7090/T7B/647 from FAAN on the naming of various federal airports after important Nigerians, which was made accessible to The PUNCH on Monday. The message was signed by the Director of Airport Operations, Mrs. Joke Olatunji.
The airports in Port Harcourt and Maiduguri were given new names in honor of the late philosopher Obafemi Jeremiah Awolowo and President Muhammadu Buhari, respectively.
Nasarawa Airport immortalised Sheikh Usman Danfodio.
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.
See the full list below:
1. Akure Airport – Olumuyiwa Bernard Aliu
2. Benin Airport – Oba Akenzua II
3. Dutse Airport – Muhammad Nuhu Sanusi
4. Ebonyi Airport – Chuba Wilberforce Okadigbo
5. Gombe Airport – Brigadier Zakari Maimalari
6. Ibadan Airport – Samuel Ladoke Akintola
7. Ilorin Airport – Gen. Tunde Idiagbon
8. Kaduna Airport – Hassan Usman Katsina
9. Maiduguri Airport – Gen. Mumammadu Buhari
10. Makurdi Airport – Joseph Sarwuan Tarka
11. Minna Airpor – Mallam Abubakar Imam
12. Nassarawa Airport – Sheikh Usman Dan Fodio
13. Osubi Airport – Alfred Diete Spiff
14. Port Harcourt Airport – Obafemi Jeremiah Awolowo
15. Yola Airport – Lamido Aliyu Mustapha