Photo caption: Governor Abiodun Oyebanji of Ekiti State.
The Federal Government has approved the commencement of commercial flight operations at the Ekiti Agro-Allied International Cargo Airport.
Commercial flight operations are effective October 4, 2025.
The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Yinka Oyebode, confirmed the development in a statement on Tuesday, describing it as a major milestone for the state’s economy.
Oyebode added that the airport is at an advanced stage of installing an Instrument Landing System to enable night and all-weather operations.
The state governor, Biodun Oyebanji, hailed the approval.
Oyebanji stated, “The commencement of commercial operations at the airport will boost agribusiness, tourism development, commercial activities and medical tourism, which will further position the state as a destination of choice for people looking for where to live, work, invest and relax.”
The approval followed the expiration of an earlier permit for non-scheduled flights in December 2024 and was granted after a validation inspection by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority in June 2025.
In its letter, dated October 3, 2025, and signed by the NCAA Director of Aerodrome and Airspace Standards, Godwin Balang, the authority said the airport had met basic operational requirements for scheduled flights.
However, it issued an interim operational permit limited to daytime operations, pending full certification for a three-year Aerodrome Operational Permit.
Following the approval, Oyebanji expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for supporting socioeconomic development, as well as former governor Kayode Fayemi, who initiated the airport project in 2019, legal luminary Aare Afe Babalola, and members of the Airport Committee for their contributions.
The airport, launched in 2019, had previously operated only non-scheduled flights until the new approval.
