The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has approved the commencement of scheduled commercial flight operations at the Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport, Ibadan.
The approval was conveyed in a letter dated December 16, 2025, addressed to the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN). The NCAA granted a provisional interim operational permit, clearing the airport for scheduled flight services.
The decision followed the completion of key upgrade works by the Oyo State Government as part of efforts to transform the facility into an international airport. The projects include the extension and widening of the runway, improved airfield lighting, construction of a 500,000-litre aviation fuel storage facility, and a new Protocol Lounge, among other infrastructure improvements.
According to the NCAA, the approval was granted after a review of updated safety-critical facilities, operational arrangements, and mitigation measures at the airport, based on recent developments and additional information provided by FAAN. The authority noted that it had earlier approved non-scheduled flight operations at the airport.
The NCAA stated that the provisional interim permit is subject to strict compliance with stipulated conditions, including the full operationalisation of emergency response arrangements, in line with the provisions of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations.
