Ekiti State governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, has revealed that efforts are in place to ensure the Ekiti Agro-Allied International Cargo Airport runs 24-hour operation in a bid to make the route competitive.
The governor 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 in order to ensure a more sustainable development of the state and better living standard for the people.
Governor Oyebanji made the remarks on Monday night during the March edition of his monthly media chat, ‘Meet Your Governor’.
He said his government intends to make the Ekiti Airport a major hub, as well as a major driver of the economy, attracting more investors to the state and boosting the economic capacities of the citizens.
Oyebanji disclosed that his administration had entered into discussions with three major airlines in the country to commence commercial flights at the airport to facilitate air travel, tourism development, more investment and transportation of cargoes and export of farm produce to local and international destinations.
While expressing optimism that at least two of the airlines would operate flights to and from 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) pilgrimage.
“To make it an airport of choice, we must put in 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,” he said.
He said his administration is determined that before the end of the year, the ILS will be installed at the Ado Ekiti Airport.
“If we are able to do that, it will be the second airport in South-West after Lagos Airport that has such a facility,” he added.
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.
Speaking further, Governor Oyebanji disclosed that the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) had moved from about N600 million monthly to over N2 billion monthly, a feat he attributed to the fact that more residents are now encouraged to pay their taxes, having seen evidence of the government’s effective utilization of proceeds of the taxes in every part of the state.
Speaking on the state of the treasury, Oyebanji emphasised that his administration does not tamper with the local government funds as the State House of Assembly has an enabling law that established the Joint Account Allocation Committee (JAAC) with the monies for the councils coming directly into the account from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
