Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, on Wednesday disclosed that the state has spent a total of N49.7 billion on the Ekiti Agro-Allied International Cargo Airport, as commercial flight operations officially commenced.
The governor made the disclosure during the inauguration ceremony held at the airport along the Ado–Ijan Road.
Oyebanji explained that while previous administrations invested about N14 billion in the project, his government expended over N34 billion within the last three years to complete outstanding civil works, installations and meet regulatory requirements.
The inaugural commercial flight was operated by United Nigeria Airlines, which conveyed passengers from Abuja to Ekiti. Among those on board were the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Aviation, Yakubu Adam Kofarmata. The aircraft later departed Ekiti for Lagos with another set of passengers.
According to the governor, the N14 billion earlier spent covered compensation to host communities, site clearing, regulatory approvals, and major civil works, including runway and pavement construction, the terminal building, portions of the control tower, service roads, fencing and aprons.
He said that since October 2022, his administration has committed over N34 billion to the completion of the terminal building and control tower, perimeter fencing, service roads, runway strip, second-phase compensation, extensive earthworks, drainage systems and embankments.
Oyebanji added that the state government also funded the installation of an Instrument Landing System (ILS) and entered into a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) with Reeve Energy Nigeria Limited for the construction of an aviation fuel tank. He noted that construction of staff quarters at the airport is currently ongoing.
“In total, N49.774 billion has been expended directly by the Ekiti State Government on this project,” the governor said.
The governor commended previous administrations for their contributions to the airport’s development, describing the project as a “collective legacy.” He noted that the airport was initially conceived under the administration of Segun Oni and later advanced by former governors Ayodele Fayose and Kayode Fayemi.
Oyebanji also praised renowned legal luminary, Aare Afe Babalola, SAN, for donating navigational equipment valued at $1.6 million and for constructing a 100-car-capacity parking lot worth N356.7 million.