The Federal Government has granted approval for the start of commercial flight operations at the Ekiti Agro-Allied International Cargo Airport.
The operations officially commenced on October 4, 2025.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Yinka Oyebode, confirmed the development, describing it as a significant boost to the state’s economy.
Oyebode also noted that the airport is in the final phase of installing an Instrument Landing System (ILS) to support night-time and all-weather flight operations.
The state governor, Biodun Oyebanji, hailed the approval.
Oyebanji stated, “The commencement of commercial operations at the airport will boost agribusiness, tourism development, commercial activities and medical tourism, which will further position the state as a destination of choice for people looking for where to live, work, invest and relax.”
The approval followed the expiration of an earlier permit for non-scheduled flights in December 2024 and was granted after a validation inspection by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority in June 2025.
In its letter, dated October 3, 2025, and signed by the NCAA Director of Aerodrome and Airspace Standards, Godwin Balang, the authority said the airport had met basic operational requirements for scheduled flights.
However, it issued an interim operational permit limited to daytime operations, pending full certification for a three-year Aerodrome Operational Permit.
Following the approval, Oyebanji expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for supporting socioeconomic development, as well as former governor Kayode Fayemi, who initiated the airport project in 2019, legal luminary Aare Afe Babalola, and members of the Airport Committee for their contributions.
The airport, launched in 2019, had previously operated only non-scheduled flights until the new approval.