The governor of Ekiti State, Mr Biodun Oyebanji has said that the Ekiti Agro-Allied International Cargo Airport will operate a 24-hour service to keep the route busy.
To walk the talk, he said his administration hoped to install instrument landing system (ILS) that would cost N4.6 billion to enhance the planned 24-hour operation.
The governor disclosed the plan during the March edition of his monthly media chat, ‘Meet your governor.’
He said his government would 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 stated 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.
He was optimistic that at least two of the airlines would operate flights to and from 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.
“If we are able to do that, it will be the second airport in the southwest after Lagos Airport that has such a facility,” he added.
The governor also disclosed that a cargo shed was being constructed at the airport to serve as storage facility for farm produce and cash crops.
