The Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace Limited, Dr. Allen Onyema, faced challenges departing from the Ekiti State Agro Allied International Cargo Airport on his Air Peace flight over the weekend, despite earlier praising the facility as one of the best in the world, SaharaReporters has learned.

According to sources, Onyema was stranded for over 24 hours as his plane could not take off due to the lack of navigational aids at the airport.

“After receiving an award arranged for him by former Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi at the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), he boisterously stated that Ekiti airport which only accepts chartered flights was one of the best in the world, only for him to be stuck in Ekiti for over 24 hours when it was time to leave,” one of the sources privy to Onyema’s experience at the airport said.

On Saturday, Onyema praised the airport, calling it one of the best in the world. Arriving at the airport around 10am in a Boeing 737 with a 120-seat capacity, he was en route to the convocation ceremony of the Federal University (FUOYE), Oye-Ekiti.

Onyema commended the airport's apron, runway, and terminal building, describing the equipment as "highly functional and aesthetically pleasing."

The Air Peace CEO informed journalists that the airport is capable of accommodating large aircraft such as the Boeing 777.

He also assured the state of his readiness to partner with the airport once it begins commercial operations, expressing optimism that the airport would soon serve as a hub for pilgrims and travelers in the country.

“This is the first time Boeing 737 will be coming to this airport and as an Aviator, I can tell you categorically that this is one of the best airports in the world, we should stop neglecting our own,” he said.

“When I say one of the best in the world, I mean it because coming in, the pilot was communicating with me and I’m reporting what the pilot said, that this is one of the best runways he has ever seen. So, Boeing 777 can even land in this airport. It is just a matter of time and I’m sure in no time Ekiti pilgrims might start flying from here because the airport can take Boeing 777.”

Onyema said it is a “beautiful airport, highly equipped, beautiful and very solid apron, solid runways, nice terminal, and what else can we ask for”.

“However, after praising the airport facilities, when it was time for Mr. Onyema to leave Ekiti on Saturday evening, his flight could not be cleared to take off because there were no navigational aids and his B737 could not work out a coordinate to fly out of Ekiti airport,” one of the sources said.

“This left him stranded until Sunday when his pilot took a risky manoeuvre to exit Ekiti airport to Lagos.”

In April 2023, SaharaReporters revealed that despite the grand inauguration of the Ekiti Cargo Airport in October 2022, the facility remained non-operational months later.

Located along Ado-Ijan Road near Afe Babalola University in Ado-Ekiti, the multi-billion-naira project was awarded to the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation Ltd. (CCECC) Nigeria by former Governor Fayemi in 2019.

Since its conception during Fayemi’s first term in 2012, billions of naira have been invested in the airport, which has yet to become functional.

The report highlighted that several critical components of the airport were incomplete despite the lavish opening ceremony. Nevertheless, Governor Abiodun Oyebanji’s administration allocated more funds in the 2023 budget to make the airport operational.

SaharaReporters noted that the passenger terminal building was unfinished at the time of the inauguration. Essential interior elements, including offices, a passenger lounge, and parts of the floor, were still under construction.

While the runway and access roads connecting the airport to the expressway leading to the state capital were completed, drainage systems were yet to be installed.

A crucial facility, the Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower, was also incomplete. ATC is essential for preventing collisions, managing air traffic flow, and providing pilots with critical information.

The ATC manages active runway surfaces, clearing aircraft for takeoff and landing while ensuring safe runway separation. If unsafe conditions are detected, ATC can instruct a landing aircraft to “go around” and be re-sequenced for landing.

A source revealed in October 2022 that Fayemi allegedly misled the people of Ekiti by bribing the Nigerian Air Force to provide a fighter jet for the airport’s inauguration.

The jet, designed to land on almost any surface, was reportedly used to create the impression that the airport was operational.

“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.

An ICIR report from October 2022 revealed that the proposed cargo terminal building at the Ekiti Cargo Airport was still at the foundation stage.

The report also noted the absence of an Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower, which is essential for managing the safe and efficient flow of air traffic and landings.

In January 2023, the state government disclosed that over N16 billion had been spent on constructing the agro-allied airport, which was inaugurated in October 2022.

Niyi Adebayo, the Chief of Staff to the Governor (then Special Adviser to Governor Abiodun Oyebanji on Budget, Economic Planning, and Performance Management), expressed concern over the significant amount of work still required, raising questions about how the already expended funds were utilized.

Adebayo also confirmed SaharaReporters' earlier report that only military aircraft were capable of using the airport.

“We can only land the military aircraft because we don’t have the full work of navigational aids. The military aircraft can land themselves with little or no air from the control tower. So, we need to have a functional control tower, build a new terminal where passengers can wait to board the plane. So, those are the expenditures we need in the New Year; but the runway is very good.

 “And of course, we need to provide necessary lighting infrastructures, so that planes can land in the evening, even daytime when you have a foggy situation because light helps the pilot to see the runway better.”

Confirming more funds would be expended on the controversial project in 2023, he said, “So, those are the areas where expenditure needs to go into.”

Similarly, Bunmi Awotiku, the coordinator of the airport project in a statement in October 2022, confirmed the situation, saying that some facilities needed for the smooth operations of the airport including the air control tower were yet to be in place.

“No control tower. Yes, you're right. A control tower is required. We are yet to start full operations. For the test flight, what is required is to establish ground-to-air communication between the air traffic controller with the pilot. For the information of the public too, we had a mobile tower manned by the Nigeria Airspace Management Authority personnel. No regulation was flouted,” he said.

When SaharaReporters contacted the airline's Head of Corporate Communications, Ejike Ndiulo, he denied that the delay was caused by the problems with the airport’s facilities.

Ndiulo blamed the delay in taking off from the Ekiti airport on poor weather.

He said, “It's not true. We had a fantastic experience in Ekiti. When we arrived in Ekiti, we completed everything we intended to do. It was one of the best landings we've ever had. That airport is fantastic.

“We arrived on a Boeing 737—a brilliant aircraft. We landed safely, and there were no issues. Nobody raised any concerns. After landing, we proceeded to FUOYE, then returned to the airport later that same day for our departure.

“Upon arriving at the airport, it started raining. The weather was bad. It had been raining in Lagos as well, preventing flights from taking off. Once the weather cleared in Lagos, our flight was able to depart for Ekiti.

“However, upon reaching Ekiti, the aircraft couldn't land due to bad weather. As a result, there was an air return—the flight had to go back because the conditions were unsafe for landing.

“When we were set to return that same day, the plane couldn't land due to bad weather. That’s why it had to return to Lagos. If you recall, the weather on that Saturday was poor, even in Lagos.”

When asked to explain why Onyema left Ekiti on Sunday, he responded, "We arrived, completed our engagements, and prepared to leave. However, the weather was still bad. The aircraft scheduled to pick us up had to wait for clear skies in Lagos before taking off. When it eventually headed for Ekiti, the weather there was still unfavourable—it was still raining.

“For your information, I was on that trip. No one can give you a more accurate account than I can.

“After leaving FUOYE, we headed to the airport, but the plane couldn't land due to bad weather and had to return to Lagos. The flight was then rescheduled for Sunday.

“On Saturday, we flew from Lagos to Ekiti. The plane dropped us off, and we proceeded to FUOYE to receive an award. Later that evening, when the flight from Abuja came to pick us up, it couldn't land because of the weather."

“We simply couldn't fly that day,” he said.

He continued, “On Sunday, the plane came back to pick us up. So, we were not stranded. When we couldn't take the flight, we simply returned to Ekiti and spent the night there.

“There were also many other people on that trip—it wasn’t just him and my team. The important thing is that it’s always safer to stay on the ground in uncertain weather conditions rather than take risks in the air.

“Safety is our top priority. These things happen—it’s the weather, and there's nothing anyone can do to control it. We have to respect nature.

“When the weather finally cleared, we made sure all the required visibility conditions for landing were met. We didn’t want to take any unnecessary risks. That’s why we decided to stay put. But we were never stranded.”