Why di renaming of Minna airport afta President Tinubu dey cause plenty tok?

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu travel to Niger State, North Central Nigeria, on a one-day official visit, wia im go commission di remodelled international airport for Minna wey di state goment don rename after im.

Tinubu go also flag of di Niger State Agricultural Revolution Project and also lay di foundation of di new Hajj terminal for di Minna airport.

But na di renaming of di airport na im dey cause tok-tok and criticism from various quarters as pipo dey ask why di state goment wan change di airport name.

Di former name of di airport na 'Dr Abubakar Imam Kagara International Airport', and di person na one ogbonge writer and journalist who be di pioneer of di first newspaper for Hausa language, 'Gaskiya Ta Fi Kwabo' in 1939.

"Abubakar Imam na one of di greatest literary icon for Northern Nigeria. Im contribution to di growth and development of di Hausa Language dey enormous. So why dem wan comot im name from di airport like that?" one political analyst wey plead anonymity tell BBC Pidgin for phone interview on Monday.

"If na me be President Tinubu, I no go even accept di change of name."

Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, tok say di renaming na to recognise President Tinubu contributions and sacrifices to di development of Niger State, Nigeria and Africa.

However, di political analyst wey tok to BBC Pidgin say "If di governor really wan recognise President Tinubu, wetin stop am from constructing anoda landmark monument and name am after di president? Abi projects don finish?" e ask.

Two name changes in less dan one year

Na just less dan one year ago, precisely in June 1, 2023, na im di Federal Ministry of Aviation release a statement renaming di Minna International Airport togeda wit 14 oda airports for Nigeria.

For dat statement, dem rename di Maiduguri airport afta Muhammadu Buhari, di airport for Ebonyi State - for South East Region - after former Senate President Chuba Okadigbo, and di Minna airport after Mallam Abubakar Imam, among others.

"So why dem wan change di airport name after wetin neva reach one year? Wetin be di economic benefit of dis change of name to Niger State? di critic wey tok to BBC ask?

But di Niger State goment bin clarify say dem don already rename di State Polytechnic wey dey for Zungeru afta Dr Imam, and e dey more befitting sake of say im dey renowned for im literary and schorlarly ingenuity.

However, apart from di controversy arising from di renaming of di Minna International Airport, President Tinubu go also commission wetin many don describe as di ambitious agricultural project of di Niger State goment.

Govnor Umaru Bago don boast for several fora dat Niger State go soon dey self sufficient for food production.

Di state bin launch di 'Total Agricultural Support Programme' (TASP) wey e dey carry out in partnership wit a Brazilian firm.

On March 6, di state announce say dem don take delivery of "500 large capacity tractors, 500 harvesters of varying capacities and1000 different agricultural and irrigation equipment".

Di programme, according to di state goment dey target to create and support about 50,000 hectares of food production hubs to enhance food production, wealth creation and employment opportunities for citizens.