The All Progressives Congress in Ekiti State has described the approval by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority of unscheduled flight operations for Ekiti Agro-Allied International Cargo Airport in Ado Ekiti as good news that cannot have come at any better time.

Segun Dipe, the state APC Publicity Secretary, 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, had, in a statement on Thursday, disclosed the NCAA approval for 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 to 6 pm (or sunrise to sunset), preparatory to the final approval for commercial flight operations”.

In a statement 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 very happy and we make bold to say that it will serve us well to the delight 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 give the governor a pass mark for walking his talk and ignoring the naysayers till the project made headway.

“This is the summary of it all: We dreamt big, and we have achieved big. It is today’s achievement for tomorrow’s greatness.

“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 very delighted that this is happening to us at this crucial time. No one could have wished for more.”