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 held at the Paragon Events Centre in Katsina, where he said the airport upgrade was being funded entirely by the Oyo State Government.
The governor said he was drawn to comments reportedly made by Wike during a television interview, in which the FCT minister said Tinubu provided ₦50 billion to assist Oyo State with upgrading the airport to international standards.
Makinde rejected the claim, insisting that the Federal Government did not provide the funds for the project.
“My attention was drawn to an interview granted yesterday by the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, where he said that the President gave ₦50 billion to Oyo State or to me to upgrade the Oyo Airport in Ibadan to international standard. I want to say that claim is false,” Makinde said.
“The President did not give ₦50 billion to me or ₦50 billion to Oyo State to upgrade the Ibadan Airport. The Ibadan Airport upgrade project is being undertaken 100 per cent with the money of Oyo State.”
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 Nigeria’s economic, educational, security and governance challenges.
Makinde, who is seeking the APM’s presidential ticket for the 2027 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 a government led by him 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 Makinde, 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 introduce programmes aimed at returning them to the classroom.
Addressing the country’s security challenges, he cited the deaths of 37 young Nigerians linked to illegal mining in Niger State and stressed the need to tackle the root causes of insecurity by creating legitimate economic opportunities.
He also advocated greater involvement of state governments in mining activities while retaining federal regulatory oversight.
The APM National Chairman, Yusuf Mamman Dantalle, said the party was offering Nigerians an alternative political direction, expressing concern that insecurity had disrupted farming, education, businesses and freedom of movement.
Dantalle called for collective efforts to restore security, reduce poverty and expand 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 the two issues as interconnected.
Daura said he aligned himself with Makinde’s presidential ambition because of the vision outlined in the “Reset Nigeria” agenda. He assured supporters that restoring security would be a priority of the proposed administration.
Makinde thanked APM leaders, stakeholders and supporters for attending the Katsina consultation. He also acknowledged Katsina State Governor Dikko Umaru Radda, who he said was in New York attending the United Nations General Assembly.
He 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 across the other geopolitical zones.
