The Presidential Candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) and Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has disputed a claim by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, that President Bola Tinubu provided ₦50 billion to support the upgrade of the Ibadan Airport.
Makinde spoke on Tuesday at the APM North-West Town Hall Meeting at the Paragon Events Centre in Katsina, where he said the Ibadan Airport upgrade project was being funded entirely by the Oyo State Government.
The governor said his attention was drawn to comments made by Wike during a television interview, in which the FCT Minister reportedly said Tinubu provided ₦50 billion to assist Oyo State with upgrading the airport to international standards.
Makinde rejected the claim, saying the Federal Government did not provide the funds for the project.
“Before I go into say a few things, let me start by saying that, my attention was drawn to an interview granted yesterday by the minister of the FCT, minister Nyesom Wike where he said that, the president gives ₦50 billion to Oyo State or to me to upgrade the Oyo airport in Ibadan to international standard. I want to say that that claim is false.
“The president did not give ₦50 billion to me or N50 billion to Oyo State to upgrade the Ibadan airport. Ibadan airport upgrade project is being undertaking 100 percent with the money of Oyo State”, he said.
Makinde Unveils ‘Reset Nigeria’ Agenda
The APM candidate also used the Katsina engagement to present the party’s “Reset Nigeria Agenda”, a policy framework he said was designed to address the country’s economic, educational, security and governance challenges.
Makinde, who is seeking to contest the 2027 presidential election, said the North-West town hall was part of the party’s nationwide consultations aimed at engaging Nigerians ahead of the polls.
He said his proposed administration would focus on building a productive economy through investment in entrepreneurship, skills development, knowledge and large-scale production, arguing that Nigeria must move beyond dependence on natural resources.
According to him, a competitive economy must be driven by innovation and productivity capable of sustaining businesses and creating opportunities for citizens.
Education, Security
On education, Makinde promised to prioritise accurate data collection on out-of-school children and implement programmes to return them to classrooms.
Addressing security challenges, he cited the deaths of 37 young Nigerians linked to illegal mining in Niger State, stressing the need for government to tackle the root causes of insecurity by creating legitimate economic opportunities.
He advocated greater involvement of state governments in mining activities while allowing the Federal Government to maintain regulatory oversight.
The APM National Chairman, Yusuf Mamman Dantalle, said the party was presenting Nigerians with an alternative political direction, lamenting that insecurity had affected farming, education, businesses and freedom of movement.
Dantalle called for collective efforts to restore security, reduce poverty and improve access to education across the country.
The party’s Vice-Presidential Candidate, Lawal Musa Daura, identified insecurity and poverty as major challenges confronting the North-West, describing both issues as interconnected.
Daura said he aligned with Makinde’s presidential ambition because of the vision behind the “Reset Nigeria” agenda, assuring that restoring security would be a priority of the proposed administration.
Makinde appreciated APM leaders, stakeholders and supporters for attending the Katsina consultation and acknowledged Governor Dikko Umaru Radda, who he said was away in New York attending the United Nations General Assembly.
He also commended the Katsina State Government for providing logistical support during the visit.
The Katsina town hall marked the North-West leg of the APM’s nationwide consultations ahead of the 2027 presidential election, with similar engagements expected in other geopolitical zones.
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