By Precious Owolabi, Ado-Ekiti:

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Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji has revealed that efforts are in place to ensure that the Ekiti Agro-Allied International Cargo Airport runs 24-hour operation, in a bid to make the route competitive.

The governor also expressed delight that the economy of the state has recorded significant improvement in the past two-and-a-half years, promising to do more in order to ensure a more sustainable development of the state and better living standard for the people.

Oyebanji made this known on Monday night during the March edition of his monthly media chat, “Meet Your Governor.”

He said his government intends to 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.

He explained that his administration has entered into discussions with three major airlines in the country to commence commercial flights at the airport, facilitate air travel, tourism development, more investment and transportation of cargoes and export of farm produce to local and international destinations.

The governor, while expressing optimism that at least two of the airlines would operate flights to and from the airport, said his administration also hopes to make the route competitive by working hard to install Instrument Landing System (ILS) that will enable the operation of 24-hour flights in the airport.

He said: “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 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.

“We are determined that before the end of this year, we will install ILS at the Ado Airport. If we are able to do that, it will be the second airport in the South West after Lagos Airport that has such a facility, so that aircraft can land at night. We are also talking to a vendor that will provide a hangar for airport services, so it’s a whole gamut of transaction that is going on.”

The governor also disclosed that a cargo shed is being constructed at the airport to serve as storage facility for farm produce and cash crops.

 He commended the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, for facilitating its inclusion in the budget.

The Ekiti Agro-Allied International Cargo Airport was given approval for non-scheduled flight operation for six months last December.

Oyebanji expressed optimism that the airport would be one of the most competitive by the time it commences commercial operations.

The governor identified some indices of economic growth witnessed under his administration to include springing up of more businesses in the state made possible by an enabling environment for them to flourish, improved internally generated revenue and receipts from the Federation Account, as well as adequate protection of lives and property.

The governor noted that the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) have moved from about N600 million monthly to over N2 billion monthly, attributing the feat partly to the fact that more residents are now encouraged to pay their taxes, having seen evidence of the government’s effective utilization of proceeds of the taxes in every part of the state.

He explained that his administration has not restricted development strides to only Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, as it is being speculated in some quarters, noting that virtually all parts of the state, including the rural areas have been touched.

He also expressed readiness to keep on working for the people of the state till his last day in office, stressing that he would not be distracted by ongoing politicking. 

Speaking on the state of the treasury, Oyebanji said what the state government and local governments receive monthly are not hidden as they are published by the office of the Accountant General stressing that they vary from one month to the other.

He emphasised that his administration does not tamper with the local government funds as the State House of Assembly has an enabling law which established the Joint Account Allocation Committee (JAAC) with the monies for the councils coming directly into the account from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

While noting that he does not get involved in how the funds are shared, the governor pointed out that he only monitors the projects the council chairmen execute with the funds to ensure that they are in line with the needs of the people and that such projects are satisfactory.