Ekiti State Government has entered into discussions with three major airlines in the country to commence commercial flights at the State Agro-Allied International Cargo Airport.
Governor Biodun Oyebanji who disclosed this, said efforts were in place to ensure the airport runs 24-hour operations, in a bid to make the route competitive.
Govenor Oyebanji also expressed delight that the economy of the state has recorded significant improvement in the past two and a half years, promising to do more to ensure a more sustainable development of the state and better living standard for the people.
Oyebanji who stated these during the March edition of his monthly media chat, “Meet Your Governor”, said his government intends to make the Ekiti Airport a major hub as well as a major driver of the economy to attract more investors to the state and boost the economic capacities of the citizens.
He explained that to facilitate air travel develop tourism, more investment and transportation of cargoes and export of farm produce to local and international destinations were required.
While expressing optimism that at least two of the airlines would operate flights at the airport, Oyebanji said his administration also hopes to make the route competitive by working hard to install Instrument Landing System (ILS) that will enable the operation of 24-hour flights in the airport.
“The issue is to make the route profitable and competitive for airlines and 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 Hajj and Christian pilgrimages.
“To make it an airport of choice, we must put a structure that guarantees 24-hour landing. There is what we call Instrument Landing System (ILS) which enables night operations and also enables planes to land in extreme weather. ILS as at 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,” Oyebanji said.
The Governor also disclosed that a cargo shed is being constructed at the airport to serve as storage facility for farm produce and cash crops.
He commended the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele for facilitating its inclusion in the budget.
