Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji has stated that the yet to be opened Ekiti Agro-Allied International Cargo Airport will operate 24 hours a day.
Governor Oyebanji, who stated these on Monday night during the March edition of his monthly media chat, “Meet Your Governor,” said his government intends to make the Ekiti Airport a major hub and a major driver of the economy, attracting more investors to the state and boosting the economic capacities of the citizens.
He explained that his administration has entered into discussions with three major airlines in the country to commence commercial flights at the airport, facilitate air travel, develop tourism, invest more in cargo transportation, and export farm produce to local and international destinations.
Oyebanji said his administration also hopes to make the route competitive by working hard to install an Instrument Landing System (ILS) that will enable the operation of 24-hour flights in the airport.
According to him, “The issue is to make the route profitable and competitive for airlines. If the route is profitable, they will bring their planes. Part of what we are doing is to make it an airport of choice, and by next year, they will be able to run the Hajj and (Christian) pilgrimage.
“To make it an airport of choice, we must put a structure that guarantees 24-hour landing. There is what we call an Instrument Landing System (ILS), which enables night operations and also enables planes to land in extreme weather. ILS, as of today, will cost close to N4.6 billion, but we are determined to get it done.
“We are determined that before the end of this year, we will install ILS at the Ado Airport. If we are able to do that, it will be the second airport in Southwest after Lagos Airport that has such a facility so that aircraft can land at night. We are also talking to a vendor that will provide a hangar for airport services, so it’s a whole gamut of transaction that is going on.”
He added that a cargo shed is being constructed at the airport to store farm produce and cash crops.
The Ekiti Agro-Allied International Cargo Airport was approved for non-scheduled flight operation for six months last December.
