Ekiti airport will be a ‘critical economic gateway’ – Engineer

 

 

Chartered engineer and founder of Tite Knox Pty Limited, Olaoluwa Dawodu, has said that the commencement of commercial operations at the Ekiti Agro-Allied International Cargo Airport will enhance commerce, tourism, and job creation across the state.

 

Dawodu, reacting to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority’s approval for the start of commercial flights, said the development had “set the state’s economic landscape for transformation.”

 

The Australia-based engineer, in a statement made available in Ado Ekiti on Saturday, described the approval as “a laudable development that will open up the state to various economic growth elements.”

 

He said, “Inter-state and eventual international access to the numerous economic potentials of a state can only be optimally explored via safe air access. The approval will not only boost commerce and tourism but also stimulate job creation, enhance connectivity, and position Ekiti among Nigerian states with viable air transport infrastructure.”

Dawodu noted that, like other airports in developed nations, the Ekiti facility would contribute significantly to the state’s gross domestic product, create employment opportunities, and attract trade and tourism.

“The Ekiti Agro-Allied International Cargo Airport has the potential to become a critical economic gateway for the state, serving as a catalyst for agricultural exports, investment inflows, and industrial development,” he added.

 

He commended Governor Biodun Oyebanji and his administration for their vision and commitment to sustainable infrastructure development and urged Ekiti indigenes both at home and abroad “to heed the call, return home, add value, and support the governor on everything that will help Ekiti to progress as the state ushers in a new era of air connectivity and economic expansion.”

 

The NCAA, in a letter to Governor Oyebanji dated October 3, 2025, approved the airport to commence commercial operations from October 4, 2025, for an initial period of six months.

 

The letter stated that a validation inspection conducted between June 16 and 19, 2025, revealed that the airport had “significantly complied with the basic operational requirements for scheduled flight operations,” while the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency’s flight check validation report showed “satisfactory compliance with regulatory requirements.”