United Nigeria Airlines to begin cargo flights at Ekiti airport

United Nigeria Airlines plans to commence cargo operations at Ekiti Airport in January 2027, with daily passenger flights to the state also expected to begin soon. The airline’s Executive Chairman, Prof. Obiora Okonkwo, disclosed this on Monday at the commissioning of the Reeve Energy Limited aviation fuel tank farm facility at the airport. Okonkwo said the airline would activate a cargo section of its operations by January, enabling businesses in Ekiti to transport goods to other parts of Nigeria and international destinations. He assured Governor Abiodun Oyebanji that the airline would be ready to lift commercial cargo as soon as the state commenced preparations for exports. “By January, we will activate a cargo section of our flights, so that we can work out a deal. As soon as you are ready to start exporting cargo from here, whether it is to other parts of Nigeria or London, we will be ready,” he said. Okonkwo also said the airline would soon introduce daily flights to and from Ekiti, expressing confidence that improved aviation services would support business and economic activities in the state. He described United Nigeria Airlines as the country’s second-largest consumer of aviation fuel after Air Peace, noting that the new tank farm would support its operations through a more reliable fuel supply. On the airline’s partnership with the state government, Okonkwo said the company neither lobbied for the arrangement nor paid a bribe to secure it. According to him, the government conducted due diligence and approached the airline after assessing its fleet and operational capacity. He added that the airline had accommodated reduced passenger numbers on some flights during periods of low demand, carrying 40 passengers instead of 50 as part of its commitment to the partnership.

Meanwhile, Oyebanji pledged continued government support for the airport and private investors, saying ongoing infrastructure upgrades were expected to enable round-the-clock operations by the end of 2026.

The governor said the state was completing an upgrade of the airport’s Instrument Landing System (ILS), which he said had been certified, alongside an aerodrome ground lighting project costing more than N10 billion.

“When we finish what we are doing with the airport by the end of the year, by God’s grace, we should be able to complete the upgrade of the ILS and the aerodrome ground lighting project,” he said.

According to him, the improvements would allow aircraft to land at the airport at any time, expanding its operational capacity.

Oyebanji also disclosed that the government was pursuing an independent power producer (IPP) arrangement to ensure a reliable electricity supply and make the airport more self-sufficient.

He commended Reeve Energy Nigeria Limited for investing in the state and assured private investors of the government’s continued support.

The planned cargo operations and daily passenger flights are expected to strengthen Ekiti’s connectivity and create opportunities for businesses, particularly agricultural producers seeking access to wider markets.

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