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Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo (SAN) has commended the Ekiti State Agro-Allied International Cargo Airport, describing its runway as world-class and confirming that the airport is ready to commence operations.
Keyamo made the remarks on Monday, January 19, 2025, upon his arrival at the airport at 5:15 PM. He was welcomed with a water salute, symbolising the significance of the visit and the progress made so far. Keyamo, who was on a fact-finding mission, expressed satisfaction with the quality of work done on the airport, highlighting the state-of-the-art infrastructure.
Speaking to journalists on his arrival, the Minister stated, “I can see that the aeronautical side is absolutely ready, the aeronautical where you have runway and I’m 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.”
While the airport is prepared, Keyamo clarified that commercial flight operations would be delayed initially to accommodate non-scheduled flights as per standard international procedure. This phase will allow private jets to test the facilities before transitioning to regular commercial flights.
“What we have approved for now is for the first six months for us to conduct non-scheduled flight. 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,” he explained.
The Minister further emphasized that the Ekiti Airport has been under the radar of the Ministry of Aviation for a long time, and the current readiness of the airport marks a significant milestone.
Keyamo then remarked that the airport was long overdue considering Ekiti State’s agribusiness, adding that he was optimistic that the airport would compete favourably with similar airports globally.
The Minister’s visit was well-timed, following the calibration of landing equipment at the airport by the National Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) just a week prior, further ensuring the airport’s readiness for operation.
During the visit, Keyamo was received by top officials of the Ekiti State Government, including the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr. Oyeniyi Adebayo; the Commissioner for Transport, Mr. Kolawole Ajobiewe; the Commissioner for Information, Rt. Hon. Taiwo Olatunbosun; Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Mr. Yinka Oyebode; and the Technical Adviser to the Governor on Airport Projects, AVM Sunday Makinde (rtd).
The airport is set to become a major infrastructure project that could bolster Ekiti’s economic development, particularly within the agro-allied sector, as it progresses to full operational capacity in the coming months.
Chioma Kalu
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