Ekiti Cargo Airport: One Year After Inauguration, Multi-Billion-Naira Project Yet To Operate
In October 2022, former Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State inaugurated the Ekiti Cargo Airport with much pomp and ceremony.
The airport, located along Ado-Ijan Road near the Afe Babalola University in Ado-Ekiti, was supposed to be a game-changer for the state’s economy and development.
Fayemi awarded the contract to the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation Ltd. (CCECC) Nigeria in 2019 and boasted that the airport would accommodate both cargo and passenger services.
Fayemi also claimed that the airport was of a “world-class standard” and tweeted about its impressive features. He said that the airport was a category 4E airport, meaning that it could handle large cargo aircrafts.
He also said that the cargo apron could fit two 747-400 planes and the passenger apron could fit three Boeing 737 planes. He added that the runway length was 3.2km, the width was 60m, and the terminal building was designed to process international and domestic passengers.
“Being a category 4E airport, this means we can accommodate large cargo – Aircrafts. The Cargo Apron 155m x 128m can conveniently accommodate two 747-400. The passenger apron 137m x 100.5m can also accommodate three Boeing 737.
“The runaway length is 3.2km, the width is 60m (45m full strength and 7-5m each at the shoulders). The terminal building is built to operate and process international and domestic passengers.”
However, a year after the inauguration, the Ekiti Cargo Airport remains non-operational as several mini-projects are still unfinished at the facility.
Newsflash Nigeria learnt that one of the incomplete projects is the passenger terminal building, which has not been plastered on the inside and lacks offices, a passenger lounge, and some parts of the floor.
The runway and the connecting roads are also not fully completed, except for the drainages.
Another critical facility that is missing is the Air Traffic Control (ATC), which is essential for ensuring the safety and efficiency of air traffic. The ATC is responsible for preventing collisions, organising and expediting the flow of air traffic, and providing information and support for pilots.
The ATC also coordinates with other controllers to create gaps in the arrival traffic to allow taxiing and departing aircrafts to cross runways and take off.
The ATC requires a highly disciplined communication process between air control and ground control, which is often facilitated by Crew Resource Management (CRM) procedures. Within ATC, this is usually known as Team Resource Management (TRM) and the level of focus on TRM varies within different ATC organisations.
A source told SaharaReporters in October 2022 that Fayemi deceived Ekiti people by bribing the Nigerian Air Force to release its fighter jet which could land anywhere by design.
The source said that nothing had been completed at the airport except for the runway, which was rushed so that the fighter jet could land there. The source also said that no plane could land there for now except for military jets which could land anywhere by design.
The source added that there was no control system yet and Fayemi used the Nigerian Air Force to fool the public that he had completed the airport.
“Nothing has been completed at the airport, only the runway was rushed so that the fighter jet could land there. No plane can land there for now except for the likes of the military jet which can land anyway by design.
“No control system yet. He bribed and used the Nigerian Air Force to deceive the public that he completed the airport and a military aircraft was deployed, flown by an Ekiti indigene.
“All the visitors that attended the swearing-in flew to Akure from where most were ferried to Ado-Ekiti by helicopter for the ceremony. The new governor didn’t attend the opening of the airport and upon being sworn in, he froze all the state accounts. For now, Fayemi only inaugurated it in his name; so another person doesn’t take the glory. It’s nowhere near completion at all,” the source had said.
The Ekiti Cargo Airport project has raised many questions about its feasibility, viability, and accountability. Is it a dream deferred or a white elephant project? Only time will tell.
Newsflash Nigeria is an online newspaper that is developed and written exclusively for Nigerians. It’s packed with up-to-the-minute Local and National Economy News, Share & Capital Market, Health, Sports, Education, Technology, Business and Opinions.
To make further advert enquiries or place an order, please contact us at [email protected] and +2348053316946 and WhatsApp number 08033546732
FOLLOW US ON GOOGLE
