Ekiti Airport Gets  Approval For  Non-Scheduled Flight Operation

By Ayodele Oni

After over two years, almost, of its completion, Ekiti Agro-Allied International Cargo Airport (EAICA) Ado-Ekiti has received the approval of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to commence non-scheduled flight operation effective December 15th, 2024.

The agro allied international airport was part of projects hurriedly commissioned by former Governor Kayode Fayemi at the expiration of his second term term tenure in 2022.

Condemnations had trailer the hurried commissioning as no aircraft has landed at the airport since then, except the military aircraft which landed on the day of commissioning.

The NCAA, in a letter dated December 11, 2024 and addressed to Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, said the approval of the non-scheduled operations under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) at the airport is for a period of six months- December 15, 2024 to June 15, 2025.

The letter, which was signed by NCAA Acting Director General Civil Aviation, Capt. Chris Najomo, was in response to the state government’s application for flight operational permit for the airport.

According to NCAA, the approval for a six months non-schedule operation at the airport is to enable the NCAA validate the implementation of the pending findings and to allow Ekiti State Government time to rectify a few outstanding Corrective Action items indicated in the agency’s last inspection report.

As part of compliance steps towards the commencement of the non-scheduled flight operations at the airport, operations are to be in agreement with relevant agencies for provision of essential services, including Air Traffic Services, Aerodrome Rescue and Fire Fighting Services,  Aviation Security and Meteorological services.

The State government had earlier signed MoUs and Service Level Agreements with these federal  aviation agencies.

A statement in Ado Ekiti by the special adviser, media, to the governor, Yinka Oyebode, stated that “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 6.00am to 6.00pm (or sunrise to sunset),  preparatory to the final approval for commercial flight operations.

“Most new airports are usually given non-scheduled flight approval to allow them clear audit gaps in their compliance before final approval for flight operational permit.”

It added that Governor Biodun Oyebanji described the NCAA’s approval as a welcome development and a justification for the state’s investment in the airport project, which was designed to boost Ekiti State’s socioeconomic development by making the state more readily accessible.

The Governor had earlier in the year assured  stakeholders that the Ekiti airport would become operational before the end of the year.