A Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress in Ekiti State, Adesola Gold Adedayo, has doused the fear being raised in some quarters that the multi-billion naira Ekiti State International Cargo Airport will be abandoned.
The former Senior Legislative Assistant hinted that the fact that Governor Biodun Oyebanji specifically attracted an Air Force Base to Ekiti to support the Airport, further corroborates the government’s desire to put the facility to full utilisation.
The cargo airport located along Ado-Ijan road, was built by the administration of Governor Kayode Fayemi and was commissioned before his exit from office in October 2022.
Speaking with some journalists in Ekiti Moba local government area of the state on Sunday, Adedayo commended Governor Oyebanji for attracting the Airforce Base to Ekiti, saying this will boost security and aid the functionality of the airport facility.
Adedayo calmed the fears of residents, saying the airport project is a capital-intensive and sensitive venture that must be certified by experts before being allowed to operate in full swing.
He said the fact that the facility has not commenced full operations does not mean it has been abandoned by the state government.
Recall that Governor Oyebanji at his inauguration promised that no project started by his predecessors will be abandoned by his government
Adedayo said, “That was why the governor commenced operations where his immediate predecessor, Dr Kayode Fayemi ended.
“The airport project was conceptualised to open Ekiti to better business opportunities, particularly, to help expose some of our agricultural products to exportation to foreign countries to raise the gross Domestic Products and individual income earnings.
“An air force base that will adjoin the facility has been cited at Ijan Ekiti and it is now under construction.
“Again, a lot of technical equipment like radar, control room and others are required to be put in place and certified fit before full operation can be allowed by the Ministry of Aviation.
“And these are capital-intensive equipment that Ekiti State with lean resources must shrewdly prioritise and do steadily, in order not to affect government operations in other sectors, so our people should not be in a hurry”.
