An Australia-based Chartered Professional Engineer, Olaoluwa Dawodu, has hailed the potential of the Ekiti Agro-Allied International Cargo Airport as a major economic gateway for the state, capable of driving agricultural exports, attracting investment, and stimulating industrial growth.
Dawodu’s remarks followed the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority’s (NCAA) recent approval for scheduled commercial flight operations at the airport, effective from October 4, 2025.
The approval, communicated to Governor Biodun Oyebanji on October 3, 2025, converts the airport from non-scheduled flight status, which expired in December 2024, into a fully licensed commercial hub for an initial six-month period.
He emphasized that safe and reliable air access is essential for inter-state and international exploration of Ekiti’s economic potential.
The airport, he said, would enhance commerce, tourism, job creation, and connectivity, positioning Ekiti among Nigerian states with viable air transport infrastructure.
Drawing comparisons with Australia, Dawodu highlighted that Australian airports contributed an estimated $105 billion to the national economy in 2022 and supported approximately 690,000 full-time equivalent jobs, underlining the transformative potential of aviation infrastructure for regional development.
He commended Governor Oyebanji’s administration for its vision and commitment to sustainable infrastructure and urged Ekiti indigenes at home and abroad to return, contribute, and support initiatives that will further the state’s economic growth as air connectivity opens a new chapter of opportunity.
