Ekiti State Governor , Dr Kayode Fayemi, on Saturday, laid the
foundation for the Ekiti Airport, signalling the commencement of work
on the agro-allied cargo airport, aimed at boosting the state
agricultural, tourism and educational endowment.
The groundbreaking ceremony was jointly performed by the Governor and
the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika.
Fayemi revealed that the airport project, which covers about 4 ,000
acres of land , is being supported by the Federal Government , African
Development Bank ( AfDB ) and Africa Export Import Bank .
Explaining the rationale behind the airport project, Governor Fayemi
said he had during his first term in office , set up a committee
headed by Aare Afe Babalola , SAN which came up with a comprehensive
report supporting why Ekiti should have its own airport , adding that
the airport should be one that opens our state up mainly for the
promotion of our agricultural, tourism and education endowment .
“We have since fine -tuned the outcome of Aare Afe Babalola ’s
committee report and also cracked the main bone of contention of the
airport , which was funding for the project. Having conceptualize the
airport as part of our integrated development strategy for Ekiti State
, our development partners , African Development Bank and the Africa
Export/Import Bank saw both the short term and the long term
justification for this airport and decided to support it.
“The Federal Government as we also heard from the Honourable Minister
, enthusiastically lend their support for the airport by assisting not
only with its designation as a Cargo Airport but also approving in
very short space of time all of the necessary materials that we needed
in order to formally commence the operations .” The governor noted .
In his remarks, the Minister of Aviation , Senator Hadi Sirika said
Ekiti was well positioned in the comity of state in Nigeria to create
wealth through agriculture , trade and knowledge zone .
“The Federal Government of Nigeria will partner in this project and
support this project especially the cargo side of it because we
believe that with the silos that we have there , with the green land ,
with the vegetation , with the nature , with the natural geography of
Ekiti , it is very good candidate to produce agricultural product for
export.
“By God -given design , by providence , Ekiti is at the centre of
Nigeria , not too far to the south with too much rain , not too far to
the north with the dry land . The per capital of Ekiti of about N 1,
160 per head says a lot, it tells us the capacity, capability and
ability of this state to create wealth , this is very important and we
will support this venture.”
