ABUJA, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)-Chartered engineer and founder of Tite Knox Pty Limited, Olaoluwa Dawodu, has stated that the commencement of commercial operations at the Ekiti Agro-Allied International Cargo Airport will boost commerce, tourism, and employment opportunities across Ekiti State.
Reacting to the approval granted by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) for commercial flight operations, Dawodu said the move had “set the state’s economic landscape for transformation.”
In a statement released in Ado Ekiti on Saturday, the Australia-based engineer described the approval as “a laudable development that will open up the state to various economic growth elements.”
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He explained, “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 emphasized that, like airports in advanced economies, the Ekiti facility would play a key role in improving the state’s gross domestic product, generating jobs, and attracting investment 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 foresight and dedication to sustainable infrastructure projects.
Dawodu also urged Ekiti indigenes 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.”
In a letter addressed to Governor Oyebanji on October 3, 2025, the NCAA approved the airport for commercial operations beginning October 4, 2025, for an initial period of six months.
According to the letter, a validation inspection carried out between June 16 and 19, 2025, showed 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 confirmed satisfactory compliance with regulatory requirements.