Buhari Names 15 Airports After Awolowo, Idiagbon, Other Prominent Nigerians on Eve of His Exit

Ilesanmi AdekanbiMay 29, 2023

2 minutes read

President Muhammadu Buhari has given his approval for the renaming of 15 airports across the country after some notable Nigerians.

The approval was announced on Friday by the Ministry of Aviation in a statement signed by the Head of Press and Public Affairs, Odutayo Oluseyi.

The statement said the renaming was done in recognition of the contributions of the individuals to the development of Nigeria and the aviation sector.

The airports that have been renamed are:

Akure International Airport, now Olumuyiwa Bernard Aliu Airport, after the former president of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

Benin International Airport, now Oba Akinzua II Airport, after the late Oba of Benin Kingdom.

Dutse International Airport, now Muhammed Nuhu Sanusi Airport, after the former Emir of Dutse and a renowned Islamic scholar.

Ebonyi International Airport, now Chuba Wilberforce Okadigbo Airport, after the late Senate President and a political leader.

Gombe International Airport, now Brigadier Zakari Maimalari Airport, after the first regular combatant officer in the Nigerian Army and a victim of the 1966 coup.

Ibadan International Airport, now Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport, after the late Premier of Western Region and a nationalist.

Ilorin International Airport, now General Tunde Idiagbon Airport, after the late Chief of Staff Supreme Headquarters and a military leader.

Kaduna International Airport, now General Hassan Usman Katsina Airport, after the late Governor of Northern Region and a military leader.

Maiduguri International Airport, now President Muhammadu Buhari Airport, after the outgoing president and a former military head of state.

Makurdi International Airport, now Joseph Sarwuan Tarka Airport, after the late Senator and a minority rights activist.

Minna International Airport, now Mallam Abubakar Imam Airport, after the late journalist and historian.

Nasarawa International Airport, now Sheikh Usman Danfodio Airport, after the founder of the Sokoto Caliphate and a religious leader.

Osubi International Airport, now Alfred Diete Spiff Airport, after the first Military Governor of Rivers State and a traditional ruler.

Port Harcourt International Airport, now Obafemi Awolowo Airport, after the late Premier of Western Region and a nationalist.

Yola International Airport, now Lamido Aliyu Mustapha Airport, after the late Emir of Yola and a statesman.

The statement added that the renaming was done in line with the recently promulgated and gazetted Acts of the agencies.

“It should be noted that in line with the recently promulgated and gazetted Acts of the agencies, membership of their boards are mostly institutional representations. The President therefore considered the requirements in approving the memberships and hopes that they will play the necessary roles in furthering the development of the sector as a new administration takes over,” it said.

The approval came on Buhari’s last day in office as he prepares to hand over power to President-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu today at Eagle Square in Abuja.

Buhari had earlier addressed Nigerians in a farewell broadcast where he thanked them for their support and urged them to cooperate with his successor.