President Bola Tinubu has announced the renaming of several federal airports in honor of some of Nigeria’s esteemed figures. This move, part of a sector-wide reform, was revealed in a memo on June 1, 2023, by Mrs. Joke Olatunji on behalf of the Director of Airport Operations.

According to the memo, the Maiduguri Airport will now be named after the immediate past President, Muhammadu Buhari, as a tribute to his service.

The Port Harcourt Airport will bear the name of the late nationalist, Obafemi Awolowo, in recognition of his significant contributions.

Furthermore, the Nasarawa Airport has been christened after the late founder of the Sokoto Caliphate, Usman Dan Fodio, honoring his historical influence.

Other notable individuals being honored include Oba Akenzua II, the late Oba of Benin, for whom the Benin Airport has been renamed. The Ebonyi Airport will carry the name of the late Senate President, Chuba Okadigbo. The Ibadan Airport will honor the late Premier of the old Western Region, Ladoke Akintola.

The complete list of airport renamings is as follows:

Akure Airport – Olumuyiwa Bernard Aliu
Benin Airport – Oba Akenzua II
Dutse Airport – Muhammad Nuhu Sanusi
Ebonyi Airport – Chuba Wilberforce Okadigbo
Gombe Airport – Brigadier Zakari Maimalari
Ibadan Airport – Samuel Ladoke Akintola
Ilorin Airport – Gen. Tunde Idiagbon
Kaduna Airport – Hassan Usman Katsina
Maiduguri Airport – Gen. Mumammadu Buhari
Makurdi Airport – Joseph Sarwuan Tarka
Minna Airport – Mallam Abubakar Imam
Nassarawa Airport – Sheikh Usman Dan Fodio
Osubi Airport – Alfred Diete Spiff
Port Harcourt Airport – Obafemi Jeremiah Awolowo
Yola Airport – Lamido Aliyu Mustapha