The Federal Government said the Ekiti International Agro Allied Airport 99.5 percent ready for full commercial operations, saying that the commercial aircraft would begin landing soon.

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, who made the declaration after the inspection of the airport in company with the state governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji said that the basic requirement for the take off of an airport is already on the ground in Ekiti Airport.

“The Ekiti Agro Allied Airport is 99.5% ready for full commercial operation. I am sure you are aware we have gone round. The basic requirements for the take-off of an airport are here. You have the fire station; you have the navigation equipment already installed. You have other equipment such as the CCTV camera in place.

“The runway we have here is of international standard and you can see how big the airport is. Narrow bodies can come here to anchor. Ekiti today is ready for the world. The fact that the governor has put in a lot of passion and commitment and resources is a testament to his passion for this project.

“What is left now is for us to ignite all our regulatory agencies in aviation to give necessary approvals. For now, we have approved that non-scheduled operation should start from here now. I landed here to show the world that Ekiti Airport is now safe for landing.

“Aviation 001 has to land here yesterday because I have confidence in the facilities here for public use right now. Commercial aircraft will start coming in anytime from now. What is left is just the luggage handling system at the arrival and that is about the last thing we just need to put here.

“There is aviation security on the ground, the firefighters are on the ground, every other person is on the ground here. Let me also say this publicly because we have to give honour to whom honour is due. We have to thank Aare Afe Babalola. He has done tremendously here. He helped us with Navigational aids and he has promised that he will do more.”

Oyebanji expressed gratitude to the Ekiti people, President Bola Tinubu, and Chief Afe Babalola for their support to ensure the airport becomes operational.

“Hon Minister now that you have landed here. It is a stamp of authority that the airport is ready for commercial flight. Anybody that has a chartered flight can fly to this place without any fear. We will ensure that the airport is maintained,” he said.

“I am very optimistic that the Ekiti economy will benefit from this. There is going to be traffic here and there will be commerce here. We have now joined the league of states with functional airports.”