Essential Ndubuisi
Ekiti State Government’s controversial airport project, which was inaugurated in October 2022 amid fanfare, is yet to become operational, but more funds have been budgeted to make it functional.
Several facilities, including the terminal building, the interior, and the Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower, have not been completed, despite the state government spending over N16 billion on the airport.
A source has accused the former governor, Kayode Fayemi, of deceiving the public and bribing the Nigerian Air Force to release its fighter jet, which was used to give the impression that the airport was completed. At present, only military aircraft can land at the airport.
The state government has committed to providing additional funds to build a new terminal and lighting infrastructures so that planes can land in the evening or during foggy weather conditions.
The airport project has been criticized as a white elephant project draining billions of naira with little to show for it.
