The federal government has named 15 airports across the country after some prominent Nigerians, including former President Muhammadu Buhari and the late Tunde Idiagbon.
Idiagbon, a general, was the chief of staff supreme headquarters (second-in-command) when Buhari was the military head of state from 1983 to 1985.
In a memo dated June 19, Joke Olatunji, director of airport operations of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), said the naming of the airports is part of government reforms of the aviation sector.
The airports in Maiduguri, Borno, and Oyo, Ibadan, were named after Buhari, and the late Samuel Ladoke Akintola, the premier of the defunct western region.
“I am directed to refer to a memo with reference FMA/T464/7090/T7B/647 dated June 1st 2023 from the federal ministry of aviation on the renaming of some federal airports after notable Nigerians,” the memon reads.
“Please kindly be informed that the under-listed have been renamed by the president as part of reforms of the aviation sector.”
Here is the full list of the airports that have been renamed:
Akure Airport – Olumuyiwa Bernard Aliu
Benin Airport – Oba Akenzua II
Dutse Airport – Muhammad Nuhu Sanusi Ebonyi Airport – Chuba W. Okadigbo