From Priscilla Ediare, Ado-Ekiti
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo (SAN) has said with the quality of the job done at the Ekiti State Agro-Allied International Cargo Airport, Ado-Ekiti, the airport can compete favourably with similar airports across the world.
Keyamo who landed at the airport around 5.15 pm on Monday was welcomed with a water salute.
The Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) on January 10, 2025, visited the airport for the calibration of landing equipment after the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) granted approval to commence non-scheduled flight operations at the facility for six months.
The Minister who said he was at the airport on a fact-finding mission expressed that the equipment provided and the materials used at the airport were of high quality and that virtually all the facilities needed for a standard airport have been provided.
Keyamo who also said that the quality of the runway at the airport can be compared to any runway in the world, described the environment where the airport is sited as beautiful.
Speaking with newsmen on his arrival, the Minister explained that the delay in the commencement of commercial flight operations at the airport is to give room for non-scheduled flights which is the standard procedure across the world.
He noted that the agro airport has been on the radar of the Ministry of Aviation for a long time and it was high time it commenced operation.
“Well, I am here on a fact-finding mission, the Ekiti Agro-Allied Airport has been on our radar for a long time and we felt it was time for us to start operations here.
“What we have approved for now is for the first six months for us to conduct non-scheduled flights. In other words, we will not have big commercial airlines coming in with plenty of passengers now but it is ready for the private jets to come in now to test the facilities here. It’s not because it is not ready but that it is actually a standard procedure all over the world that you start with a non-scheduled flight and test the facilities before bringing a lot of passengers here.
“I can see that the aeronautical side is absolutely ready, the aeronautical side is where you have a runway and am sure you have seen the quality of the runway, this quality of the runway you see here can be compared to any runway in the world,” the Minister said.
Speaking further, he said the airport is long overdue considering the huge agribusiness going on in Ekiti State.
“Ekiti, especially Ado-Ekiti, has always been lagging behind for a long time because this is one of the heart of western Nigeria where a lot of agro activities take place and we have been missing a lot of commercial activities here.
“Ekiti should actually be the commercial hub of western Nigeria in terms of agro products. But with this facility here you can be sure that Ekiti is ready to compete with the rest of the world in terms of agro-cargo activities.
“I am really impressed. It is a beautiful environment. We want to thank the settlers here who gave us this kind of beautiful terrain to build this type of airport. We commend them. We thank them so much for their magnanimity and just to say that what is left is to maintain this facility as well as we can to ensure that the good people of Ekiti state and in fact, Nigerians as a whole enjoy this facility.”
The Minister was received at the airport by the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Oyeniyi Adebayo; Commissioner for Transport, Kolawole Ajobiewe; Commissioner for Information, Rt. Hon. Taiwo Olatunbosun, Special Adviser Media to the Governor, Yinka Oyebode, and Technical Adviser to the Governor on Airport Project, AVM Sunday Makinde (Rtd) among others.