The Ekiti State Agro-Allied Passenger International Airport was opened to the public shortly after the facility’s first plane touched down on Saturday, which was a dream come true for the people of the Land of Honour.
With the commissioning of the airport and the arrival of the first flight, Ekiti has joined the select group of Nigerian states that can boast of a functioning airport. This will likely increase the export of agricultural products, support educational and medical institutions, and take advantage of the state’s abundant tourism potential.
At precisely 10:20 a.m., an ATR 42 from the Nigerian Air Force, flown by Flight Lieutenant E.A. Balogun, touched down at the airport’s runway to loud cheers from distinguished visitors, dignitaries, and members of the general public who had gathered to witness the historic event.
Senator Hadi Sirika, the minister of aviation, was one among the notables on board the plane that made the historic landing in Ekiti and officiated at the airport’s inauguration.
Dr. Kayode Fayemi, the outgoing governor, expressed happiness that the project, which had been conceived during his first administration in 2012 ten years prior, finally saw the light of day.
“My job is done, Ekiti Kete,” he said.
Dr. Fayemi also took advantage of the opportunity to reassure the state’s residents that the federal highways in poor condition would receive treatment in order to provide relief to their users and support the recently completed airport project.
The Governor asserted that he, Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo, Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, and Oba Adeyemo Adejugbe, Ewi of Ado Ekiti, have been fervently pleading with the Federal Government to facilitate an immediate intervention on federal roads in the state that are currently in disrepair.
The airport is not just a project, but rather “the engine of the economy of the state,” according to Mr. Zhang Zichen, Chairman of China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), which oversaw the project. He said it would allow Ekiti to attract more investment and development to the benefit of the state and the business community.
The Federal Government would locate a cargo facility at the airport, Aviation Minister Sirika also told the ecstatic gathering. The Ekiti Airport, which would ease the import and export of products and commodities, was referred to as “an exceedingly very vital project” by the speaker.
“35 per cent of global trade by value is moved through airports, and $18.6 billion of cargo is moved daily through air transportation. The wealthy among you should take to agriculture for example and begin to produce things that you will export to other parts of the world.
“You can be land-locked but you cannot be sky-locked. We can all see the importance of having a facility like this. Thank you Mr Governor, you have provided this facility for the people of Ekiti State; they should own it, they should own it,” he said.
Later, the visitors were taken on a tour of the terminal and other airport amenities.
The wife of the governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, the deputy governor, Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi, the speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Mr. Funminiyi Afuye, the Nigerian ambassador to the Netherlands, Dr. Eniola Ajayi, representatives from Ekiti in the diaspora, traditional leaders, state legislators, and representatives from the Federal Ministry of Aviation were among the dignitaries present.
