Festus Keyamo, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, has announced that the Ekiti Agro-Allied International Cargo Airport, located in Ado-Ekiti, is set to commence full commercial operations.
Gatekeepers News reports that Keyamo, during a press briefing on Tuesday, provided updates following his inspection of the airport’s facilities, accompanied by Biodun Oyebanji, the Governor of Ekiti State, and other senior government officials.
Keyamo reported that the airport’s construction is 99.5 percent complete, with operations anticipated to start shortly.
He highlighted that the runway is built to meet international standards and includes a spacious apron capable of accommodating multiple Boeing 737 small-body aircraft, positioning it favorably alongside airports in developed nations.
“I landed here to show the world that it’s now safe for landing, which is why Aviation 001 had to land here, it’s a testament that I have confidence in the facilities here for public use,” Keyamo said.
“The commercial airlines will start coming in, anytime from now.”
Oyebanji expressed his gratitude to the minister, Afe Babalola, legal icon, and President Bola Tinubu for their unwavering support in bringing the project to fruition.
He said the airport’s completion is a fulfilment of the dreams of the state’s founding fathers and the people of Ekiti.
The governor highlighted the economic benefits of the airport, noting that it would create job opportunities in agriculture, commerce, and tourism, while also increasing the value of properties in the area due to the expected influx of traffic.
“It is a dual-purpose airport, it’s going to serve agro-allied products as well as commercial passengers,” he said.