You could be holding hands with your partner in Alakia, Ibadan and see at close range a commercial American airline. But wait, that can only happen as from 2026.
The story is changing for good. International flights will begin in Ibadan Alakia Airport after the upgrade.
The upgrade, which started in January 2025 will be changing the narrative and we are ready for it.
We noted a few developments and changes to expect.
Expected Developments in Alakia, Ibadan
Although now a different name; Samuel Ladoke Akintola International Airport will be coming with a bunch of goodies to the Ibadan community. Go further down and see how it may unfold.
1. Boosted Tourism
Ibadan la wa! Fly in Fly Out! Ibadan indigines just may get used to those words.
We can expect to see increased tourism visits and what states may be trooping in the most? A guess? Lagos, Ogun, Ilorin?
Ofcourse, you can have a few right guesses. The upgrade will certainly boost local and international transportation, making a significant contribution to the state’s internally generated revenue.
Moving forward, a drive around would expose new travellers to the handful of tourism options including Agodi Gardens, Bower’s Tower, NTA, Ibadan (First Television in Africa) amongst many.
2. Improved Connectivity
Ibadan, no disconnect! With the upgrade to Samuel Ladoke Akintola International Airport, Ibadan city and Oyo state at large can boast of better connectivity to neighbouring states including Lagos, Ilorin, and even farther.
In essence, jumping into the brown roof city from Rivers State shouldn’t be a problem just like it would not be from London.
International and standardized Airports provide the profound benefit of improved connectivity which goes round to impact the economy.
With the FAAN doing a great job of controlling the local and inbound air traffics, welcoming and hosting international flights will be a pleasure.
3. Job Creation
Fresh jobs creation should not be a surprise when development is in the talks.
Following the announcement, labour began and some unemployed got to take some wages home. While that’s a goodie for laborers on site, we can still expect more jobs even after massive project.
We can expect to see jobs after the construction because of the anticipated influx of more businesses like hotels, restaurants, bars and similar recreational brands along the axis.
It makes more sense to note that aestethics is a side-perk of this. Environs get a new look and new trade opportunities on the axis begin to emerge. This is particularly a boost since the state has its share of unemployment too.
However, it interestingly goes beyond employment and we can begin to expect the launch of businesses with entirely different orientation and impact. Ibadan is getting that mega trade vibe, you can say.
4. Foreign Investment
With the Oyo State’s commitment to improving foreign investment, the Airport is indeed a great move to appease to potential investors around the world; and the message is clear – Ibadan is ready for investment!
It will not be the first, however. A Moroccan deal was secured in 2024 by the State government, involving Africorp, the mother company to makers of Mouka Foam, following the acquisition of substantial industrial land in the state capital.
The Airport upgrade will more certainly send a clear message – that Ibadan is on the move and investments of all kinds are welcome.
It’s bound to get much more interesting and life changing when the anticipated results start to play out and residents of Iwo road, Alakia, Monatan and respective axis begin to experience the economy in new light.
