The Oyo State government has started building a 400,000-litre capacity elevated Braitwaite water tank at Ladoke Akintola Airport in Ibadan as part of ongoing work to raise the facility to international standard.
The Executive Chairman of the Oyo State Water Corporation, Elias Adeojo, confirmed the development during a project inspection with engineers of the corporation. His comments were contained in a statement issued on Saturday by the Commissioner for Information, Prince Dotun Oyelade.
Adeojo said the project is divided into three phases. “The first phase currently involves the excavation of trenches for pipeline laying and backfilling, while the second phase will cover the welding and installation of pipelines to key locations across the airport premises. The third and final phase involves the construction of the 400,000-litre capacity elevated Braitwaite tank, which will supply water to the airport, using gravity-based distribution,” he explained.
He added that the phases would run side by side to speed up delivery and maintain quality standards, urging engineers to give their best.
Adeojo stressed that the project enjoys strong backing from Governor Seyi Makinde, describing it as vital to the overall upgrade of the airport. According to him, the water system will greatly improve supply at the facility and support its readiness for international operations.
The Information Commissioner, Dotun Oyelade, recalled that the airport’s upgrade, flagged off in September 2024, included extending the runway from 2,400 to 3,000 meters, widening it from 45 to 60 meters to allow wide-body aircraft, and upgrading airfield lighting and firefighting systems.
“These upgrades reflect the government’s vision of transforming the Ibadan Airport into a modern and internationally competitive facility. By enhancing our infrastructure to accommodate larger aircraft, we are not only improving domestic connectivity but also paving the way for global travel,” Oyelade said.
He noted that the new international terminal was about 15 percent complete and expected to be ready by June 2026. He also restated Governor Makinde’s pledge that the 2026 Hajj flight would depart from the Ibadan airport.
