"APC Hails NCAA's Approval of Flights for Ekiti Airport as a Perfect Christmas Gift"

Reported by Ojo Racheal

The All Progressives Congress in Ekiti State has praised the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority's approval of unscheduled flight operations for the Ekiti Agro-Allied International Cargo Airport in Ado Ekiti, calling it a timely and welcomed development.

In a statement issued on Thursday, Yinka Oyebode, the special adviser to the governor on media, revealed that the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) had granted approval for non-scheduled operations under Visual Flight Rules at the Ekiti Agro-Allied International Cargo Airport. This approval will be in effect for a period of six months, from December 15, 2024, to June 15, 2025.

The state APC Publicity Secretary, Segun Dipe, lauded the state governor, Biodun Oyebanji, for the development, describing him as a promise-keeper.

The special adviser to the governor on media, Yinka Oyebode, in a statement released on Thursday, disclosed that the NCAA approved non-scheduled operations under Visual Flight Rules at the airport for a period of six months—December 15, 2024, to June 15, 2025.

Oyebode had stated, “The government of Ekiti State welcomes NCAA’s approval for the non-scheduled flight operation, which allows private jets and other chartered flights to land and take off from the airport between 6 am and 6 pm (or sunrise to sunset), preparatory to the final approval for commercial flight operations.”.

According to the statement issued by Punch on Friday, Dipe said, “This is a promise made and a promise kept, a Christmas gift specially wrapped for all in the state. That is how we see it. We are extremely pleased to confidently assert that it will greatly benefit us, to the satisfaction of all.

“At this point, it’s not about what had been said wrongly or rightly about the airport project, but what has been achieved. Everyone in the state should commend the governor for staying true to his words and disregarding the critics until the project gained momentum.

“On the surface, it was a tall order for a state like Ekiti to boast an airport, but with the saying that with God, all things are possible, coupled with our having in the saddle a highly determined governor, then we can be greatly joyful that great things are happening to us in Ekiti in diverse ways.

“And we believe the good people of the state will be delighted that this is happening to us at this crucial time. No one could have wished for more.”