Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, on Wednesday announced that the state has spent a total of N49.7bn on the Ekiti Agro-Allied International Cargo Airport, as commercial flight operations officially commenced.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony held at the airport along the Ado–Ijan Road, Oyebanji said previous administrations spent N14bn on the project, while his government invested an additional N34bn over the last three years to complete outstanding civil works, installations, and regulatory requirements.
The airport, first conceived under former Governor Segun Oni, was initiated by Ayodele Fayose in 2019, advanced under Dr. Kayode Fayemi, who facilitated the first test flight and completed by the Oyebanji administration. Non-scheduled flights were approved late last year, paving the way for Wednesday’s commercial debut.
The inaugural commercial flight, operated by United Nigeria Airlines, arrived from Abuja with passengers including Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele and the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Aviation, Yakubu Adam Kofarmata. The aircraft later departed for Lagos with another group of passengers.
Oyebanji explained that the initial N14bn expenditure covered compensation, site clearing, regulatory approvals, and major civil works such as runway and pavement construction, the terminal building, segments of the control tower, service roads, fencing, and aprons.
Since October 2022, he said, his administration has spent more than N34bn completing the terminal building and control tower, perimeter fencing, service roads, runway strip, second-phase compensation, as well as earthworks, drainages, and embankments.
The state also funded the installation of an Instrument Landing System and partnered with Reeve Energy Nigeria Ltd. under a PPP arrangement to construct an aviation fuel tank. Construction of airport staff quarters is ongoing.
“In total, N49.774bn has been expended directly by the Ekiti State Government,” Oyebanji said.
He praised past administrations for their contributions, describing the airport as a “collective legacy,” and commended Aare Afe Babalola for donating $1.6m worth of navigational equipment and constructing a 100-car-capacity parking lot valued at N356.7m.
“With this airport, we are bringing markets closer to our people and bringing the world closer to Ekiti,” he added.
Representing the Minister of Aviation, Permanent Secretary Yakubu Adam Kofarmata described the launch as a “historic milestone” for Ekiti and a testament to the Tinubu administration’s commitment to job creation and aviation development.
Former Governor Fayemi praised Oyebanji for completing the project and acknowledged contractors for working through periods of fiscal constraints.
CCECC Nigeria Ltd., the project’s main contractor, said the airport would boost employment, tourism, logistics, global exports, and agricultural investment, calling it a “new sky gateway” for the state.
United Nigeria Airlines Chairman, Prof. Obiora Okonkwo, announced that the airline would soon introduce student flight discounts.
Dignitaries in attendance included former Governors Niyi Adebayo and Ayodele Fayose, National Assembly members from Ekiti, state commissioners, and former deputy governors Abiodun Aluko and Paul Alabi.
