By our staff reporter
President Muhammadu Buhari has renamed Ilorin International Airport after the late former Chief of Staff ,Supreme Headquarters, Major General Babatunde Idiagbon. Buhari did this hours before his exit from Aso Rock as President, federal Republic of Nigeria.
Apart from Idiagbon, the president also approved the renaming of 14 other airports after some prominent Nigerian leaders.
Idiagbon was Buhari’s deputy when he ruled Nigeria as military head of state between 1983 and 1985. As the second in command, he was considered as the engine room of the government; the de facto head of state. He was celebrated for his discipline and zero tolerance for corruption. He died in 1999, aged 56.
The approval for the renaming of airports after eminent Nigerians by Buhari was given on Friday, according to a statement from the ministry of aviation, signed by the head of press and public affairs, Odutayo Oluseyi.
The airports include Akure International Airport, named after Olumuyiwa Bernard Aliu; Benin International Airport was also named after Oba Akinzua II; Dutse International Airport was renamed to Muhammed Nuhu Sanusi; Ebonyi International Airport Okadigbo will now be known as Chuba Wilberforce; while Gombe International Airport was renamed Brigadier Zakari Maimalari.
Also on the list are Ibadan International Airport (Samuel Ladoke Akintola); Ilorin International Airport (General Tunde Abdullahi Idiagbon); Kaduna International Airport (Gen. Hassan Usman Katsina); and Maiduguri International Airport (President Muhammadu Buhari).
Others are the Makurdi International Airport which will now be known as Joseph Sarwuan Tarka; Minna International Airport has been renamed to Mall. Abubakar Imam; Nasarrawa International Airport was named after Sheikh Usman Danfodio; Osubi International Airport was renamed Alfred Diete-Spiff.
While the Port Harcourt International Airport was renamed Obafemi Jeremiah Awolowo, Yola International Airport is now known as Lamido Aliyu Mustapha Airport.
