Ekiti Airport: Another Miscarriage of Priority.

It is quite disheartening that politicians in our clime don't weigh long term impact of projects on the governed before bringing out shovel. This act has not only contributing to abandoned projects littered all over the country but eventually lead to wastage of public funds.

It is on this singular note that we are x-raying Ekiti proposed Airport to the public. Truly, there is nothing bad if all the 36 States have airport but it will be a recurrent decimal if we keep building Airport based on politics instead of economy value. All politicians are after is having their names written in gold for projects without considering its essence. Records have shown it that only 4 out of 22 Airports under the auspices of FAAN contribute 70% of generated revenue in the last five years. In fact, we have some that cost of maintaining them is far more than their returns.

For instance, what benefit is to government and her people when an airport barely generates N10million and takes N70million for maintenance after spending billions of naira for its construction. This has been story of many airports in Nigeria as many don't even have travelling schedules for three months. They are mainly utilised by politicians and government officials with little or no commercial gain. Since Jigawa airport has been commissioned last year, how many flight schedules have taken place, aside political campaign train and Hajj.

With Ibadan, Akure, Ilorin and others struggling to survive where will Ekiti stand. Even Osun and Ogun are also planing to join the trend. It seems our leaders are not living with economy reality as some of these States barely pay workers salaries at due date. Therefore, putting themselves in shoes of Akwa-Ibom and Jigawa who built theirs when oil price was its peak will remain a fantasy.

Without mincing words, commercial viability of an airport is hinged on factors such as traffic flows, accessibility, nature(cargo/people) and capacity. Thus Ekiti airport will just be an aesthetic project as it is not only unviable but unripe for air travelling business. It is unviable as a result of traffic and proximity to Akure. It is unripe because revenue is not in surplus term. Lastly, it cannot be a cargo airport as no agricultural produce or other production taking place in the State unless it want to be another dumping ground for imported goods.

Our advice to Mr Fayose is to have a rethink on this project, as spending one-fifth of his state annual budget will spell doom for other sectors. If Ekiti, an agrarian State can invest N17billion into agricultural sector or textile that is in moribund, it will not only yield bumper revenue but reduce dependence on Federal Allocation and generate employment opportunities. Also, Ekiti State is blessed with many gem stones that can be utilised to industrialise the State instead of this white elephant project.

However, if Mr Fayose is not ready to yield to our advice he should use his personal money to build a private airport in his State not the State fund.

"Those that fail to learn from history, are doomed to repeat it." Winston Churchill

Wishing you all a nice weekend.

Ifedayo Obi,
Good Governance Advocates
goodgovernanceadv@gmail.com

Please next time tell us the priorities

A project for the rich and Private jets owners. I pray he listens.

If airport is not built people will complain. If it is built people will still complain.

Op please be constructive by stating both the merits and demerits

vb0mb:
If airport is not built people will complain. If it is built people will still complain.

Op please be constructive by stating both the merits and demerits

Which merit has Ibadan and Akure airports served?

Did you read FAAN's report? If you do, you will realize that projects like this rather than contribute to states' economy, turns to liability.
One 4 airports are viable in the whole Nigeria - Lagos, Kano, PH and Abuja. Others are liabilities that can't even run on their own except for heavy government financing, money that could easily be used judiciously on profitable aspects of the economy.

Go online and see if you can book a flight to commercial flight to Akure airport which is just around 50km to Ekiti. As at last December, Ibadan airport is serviced by only Overland and Aero, and they hardly pull a flight per day.

If you're familiar with Ekiti, you'll know an airport should never be in any reasonable governor's agenda for now. Who are the targeted passengers? Those civil servants right? Or how many companies are there in Ekiti?

Aregbe building an airport in Osun is already a bad move, Fayose's decision is worse.

What really happened to opon imo e learning projects


I was thinking that the kids will be in havard now
Well the project is funny

A state that can't lay salary
Well if it is okay for them so be it



Who will fly

stinggy:

Which merit has Ibadan and Akure airports served?

Did you read FAAN's report? If you do, you will realize that projects like this rather than contribute to states' economy, turns to liability.
One 4 airports are viable in the whole Nigeria - Lagos, Kano, PH and Abuja. Others are liabilities that can't even run on their own except for heavy government financing, money that could easily be used judiciously on profitable aspects of the economy.

Go online and see if you can book a flight to commercial flight to Akure airport which is just around 50km to Ekiti. As at last December, Ibadan airport is serviced by only Overland and Aero, and they hardly pull a flight per day.

If you're familiar with Ekiti, you'll know an airport should never be in any reasonable governor's agenda for now. Who are the targeted passengers? Those civil servants right? Or how many companies are there in Ekiti?

Aregbe building an airport in Osun is already a bad move, Fayose's decision is worse.

Who told you ? Owerri airport and Enugu is flying seriously ..check your air traffic reports


If these places ainr viable planes won't fly

tonychristopher:


Who told you ? Owerri airport and Enugu is flying seriously ..check your air traffic reports


If these places ainr viable planes won't fly

My friend, don't just mix this discussion with sentiments as usual. Go and read the report and come back here to discuss.

Hmmmm may God help the poor