The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority has granted the Ekiti Agro-Allied International Cargo Airport in Ado Ekiti, the state capital, approval to commence non-scheduled flight operations beginning from December 15, 2024.
Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, described the development as a significant milestone and a testament to the state’s investment in the airport project.
He described the move as pivotal for enhancing the state’s socioeconomic growth by improving accessibility.
“This approval is a welcome development and a justification for the state’s investment in the airport project designed to boost Ekiti State’s socioeconomic development by making the state more readily accessible,” Oyebanji said in a statement released by his Special Adviser on Media, Yinka Oyebode, in Ado Ekiti on Thursday.
According to Oyebode, the NCAA communicated its decision in a letter dated December 11, 2024, addressed to Oyebanji.
The statement reads:
“As part of compliance steps towards the commencement of non-scheduled flight operations at the airport, operations are to align with relevant agencies for the provision of essential services, including Air Traffic Services, Aerodrome Rescue and Firefighting Services, Aviation Security, and Meteorological Services.
“It will be recalled that the state government had earlier signed MoUs and Service Level Agreements with these federal aviation agencies.
“The Government of Ekiti State welcomes NCAA’s approval for non-scheduled flight operations, which allows private jets and other chartered flights to land and take off from the airport between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. (sunrise to sunset), as part of preparations for final approval for commercial flight operations.
“Most new airports are usually granted non-scheduled flight approval to address audit gaps in compliance before receiving final flight operational permits.”
The statement further noted that Governor Biodun Oyebanji described the approval as a welcome development and a justification for the state’s investment in the airport project, which aims to boost Ekiti State’s socioeconomic development by improving accessibility.
Earlier this year, Oyebanji assured stakeholders that the Ekiti airport would become operational before the end of the year.
The NCAA Acting Director-General, Capt. Chris Najomo, clarified in the letter that the approval covers non-scheduled operations under Visual Flight Rules for six months, from December 15, 2024, to June 15, 2025.
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The temporary permit, Oyebode explained, enables the NCAA to validate pending findings and gives the Ekiti State Government time to address a few outstanding corrective actions highlighted in the agency’s last inspection report.
As part of compliance efforts, the state government has engaged relevant aviation agencies to provide essential services, including Air Traffic Services, Aerodrome Rescue and Fire Fighting Services, Aviation Security, and Meteorological services.
It is worth noting that most new airports are initially granted non-scheduled flight approvals to address compliance issues before receiving full operational permits.
Ekiti State had previously signed Memoranda of Understanding and Service Level Agreements with federal aviation agencies to facilitate the airport’s development.
Oyebanji had earlier assured stakeholders that the airport would be operational before the end of the year.
With this milestone, the state inches closer to realising its goal of leveraging the airport for economic transformation, the statement concluded.
