By Saheed Ibrahim
Claim: Several Nigerian media outlets reported that the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has shut down Ibadan Airport for six months.
Full texts
The Ibadan Airport, located at Alakia, between Adegbaiji community and Iwo Road, Ibadan, Nigeria was commissioned in June 1982 by the former Senate President, Joseph Wayas.
In June 2024, President Bola Tinubu approved the upgrading of the airport’s facilities to international airport standard.
According to Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, the airport upgrade, awarded to Craneburg, is expected to go through a second transformation phase. The state government says the first phase of the upgrade included runway improvements, airport lighting upgrades, and fire service enhancements.
Also, the proposed second phase will witness the construction of the new international terminal and other related infrastructure.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) through its Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, on Friday, February 28, 2025, announced via his X account, that the Ibadan airport may experience a possible shutdown for six months for its maintenance and upgrade.
Achimugu post reads: “Subject to new information, Ibadan airport may be shut down for six months for maintenance/upgrade, starting from early March(sic).”
However, some media reports in Nigeria claimed that the NCAA had shut down the Ibadan airport for six months.
The reports can be found here, here, here and here.
Given the virality of the claim and the crucial role of the media in verified information dissemination, we conducted this fact-check.
Verification
We checked the official website of the NCAA to see if there was any information directing the closure of Ibadan Airport for six months, such a directive could not be found.
In a new post on X, the NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection debunked the viral claim, stating that his earlier post was misconstrued.
Achimugu said: “I don’t understand how any journalist would take this post and caption it, “NCAA SHUTS DOWN IBADAN AIRPORT.
“My post never said so.(sic),” he said.
Also, The Guardian Nigeria in a report also revealed that the NCAA has denied shutting down the Ibadan airport, emphasising that a media report misconstrued Achimugu’s social media post.
Some X users shared their comments on Achimugu’s post, berating some journalists for misinterpreting public speeches.
For instance, @kehindeadefulu stated: “Lol After you posted for maintenance and duration of six months, they went and change the narrative.
“The Media should uphold some level of professionalism!”(sic).
Also, @makaylun1 said that “Journalists most times misconstrue facts and statements to massage their egos. And sometimes, they intentionally veered from facts.
There should be consequences” (sic)
An analysis of media reports claiming the airport’s closure reveals that the headlines were designed to attract readership.
However, in the body of their reports, they used the future tense indicator “will,” indicating that the closure had not occurred.
Conclusion
The claim that the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has shut down the Ibadan airport for six months is misleading.
There is no official directive from the NCAA confirming the closure. Additionally, the NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection has debunked the claim, clarifying that his statement was misinterpreted.