The approval, conveyed in a letter dated December 16, 2025, and addressed to the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), granted the airport a provisional interim operational permit to begin scheduled flight services.
This development followed the completion of major upgrade works undertaken by the Oyo State Government in its bid to upgrade the facility to international airport status. The improvements include the extension and widening of the runway, enhanced airfield lighting systems, the construction of a 500,000-litre aviation fuel storage facility, a new Protocol Lounge, and other critical infrastructure.
According to the NCAA, the decision was based on a thorough review of updated safety-critical facilities, operational frameworks, and mitigation measures at the airport, taking into account recent developments and additional information submitted by FAAN. The authority also noted that it had previously approved the airport for non-scheduled flight operations.
The NCAA emphasized that the provisional interim permit is conditional upon strict adherence to specified requirements, particularly the full activation of emergency response arrangements, in accordance with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations.