Governor Seyi Makinde has confirmed that the much-anticipated Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Base in Ajia, Oyo State, will be officially commissioned by June this year. This announcement was made during his recent inspection of the facility, where he expressed satisfaction with the progress of construction and the quality of work being delivered on site.
Governor Makinde, accompanied by Air Vice Marshal Kolade Ademuwagun, the Air Officer Commanding, Logistics Command, Nigerian Air Force, Ikeja, and other senior officers, stated that the base is now a reality and poised to become operational soon. He highlighted the significance of the project for the security architecture of Oyo State and reiterated his administration’s commitment to supporting the Nigerian Air Force in expanding its operations within the state.
During the inspection, the governor announced plans to dualise the road from Ajia Junction on Ife Road to the new NAF Base, promising that construction would commence immediately to ensure smooth access to the facility. He further disclosed that the connecting road from the base to Airport Road would be completed as a single carriageway. According to Makinde, the hydraulic structures on the 21-kilometre Airport–Ajia–New Ife Express Road, with a spur to Amuloko, have already been completed, and the remaining work is expected to be finished within six months.
Governor Makinde also revealed that the commissioning of the NAF Base is strategically scheduled to coincide with the Nigerian Air Force anniversary, underscoring the importance of the project both for the state and the nation’s security apparatus. He assured residents that the new base would further enhance safety and security in Oyo State, while also contributing to the transformation of the area around the airport into an aerotropolis, in line with his administration’s broader development agenda.
The governor’s visit was attended by key government officials, including the commissioner for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Mr. William Akin-Funmilayo, and Chief Bayo Lawal, the senior executive assistant to the governor on General Duties, among others. Their presence underscored the government’s dedication to the successful completion and operationalization of the NAF Base in Ajia, which marks a significant milestone in Oyo State’s infrastructural and security development.
