Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, has revealed plans to operate the Ekiti Agro-Allied International Cargo Airport 24 hours a day to enhance its competitiveness and strengthen its role as an economic hub.

During the March edition of his monthly media chat, “Meet Your Governor,” Governor Oyebanji expressed confidence in the airport’s potential, highlighting ongoing discussions with three major airlines to launch commercial flights. The initiative aims to boost tourism, air travel, farm produce exports, and overall investment in the state.

A crucial element of the airport’s success, according to the Governor, is making it a profitable route for airlines. To achieve this, his administration is focused on installing an Instrument Landing System (ILS) to allow night flights and operations in extreme weather conditions. The ILS installation, costing approximately N4.6 billion, will position the Ekiti airport as the second in the Southwest, after Lagos, to have such capabilities. Furthermore, discussions are underway for a hangar to support airline services, making the airport more attractive for airlines.

Governor Oyebanji also revealed that a cargo shed is under construction at the airport to support the storage of farm produce and cash crops. He commended Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, for facilitating the inclusion of the project in the state’s budget.

The airport, which was approved for non-scheduled flight operations in December 2024, is expected to become a key player in the aviation industry once commercial operations begin.

In addition, Governor Oyebanji outlined several economic achievements, including a significant increase in Ekiti’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), which has risen from approximately N600 million to over N2 billion monthly. He credited this success to improved tax compliance, driven by the public’s confidence in the government’s use of tax proceeds.

The Governor reassured citizens that his administration’s development efforts extend beyond the state capital, Ado-Ekiti, to rural areas, emphasizing his commitment to progress throughout his tenure. He also clarified that local government funds are managed transparently, with allocations directly deposited from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and administered through the Joint Account Allocation Committee (JAAC).