By Bolanle Lawal
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo (SAN), on Tuesday said that the Ekiti Agro-Allied International Cargo Airport, Ado-Ekiti, is ready for full commercial operations.
The Minister disclosed this to newsmen shortly after inspecting facilities at the airport, accompanied by Gov. Biodun Oyebanji and top government officials of the state.
According to him, the airport is 99.5 per cent completed and full commercial operations will soon start.
The Minister also disclosed that the runway was of international standard, and has an apron, large enough to park many 737 small-body aircrafts, thereby, making it adequately comparable to airports in the developed world.
“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.
“The commercial airlines will start coming in, anytime from now,” he said.
Oyebanji, in his comment, thanked the Aviation Minister, legal icon, Afe Babalola, and President Bola Tinubu for making the dreams of the founding fathers, and the entire Ekiti people, come to reality, with their unwavering support towards the completion of the airport project.
The Governor said that the state economy would benefit a lot from the project as jobs would be created, through agriculture, commerce, and tourism.
He also said that it would add value to properties in the area, because of the anticipated in flow of traffic.
“It is a dual-purpose airport, it’s going to serve agro-allied products as well as commercial passengers,” he said .
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Minister, who landed at the airport on Monday, also departed through the same airport on Tuesday, with the same aircraft, shortly after inspecting the airport project with the State governor. (NAN)
