United Nigeria Airlines To Begin Cargo Operations At Ekiti Airport In January – Prof Okonkwo

United Nigeria Airlines has announced plans to commence cargo operations at the Ekiti Agro-Allied International Cargo Airport in January 2026 and to introduce daily passenger flights to the state soon after.

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 the cargo section of its flights by January, enabling businesses to move goods from Ekiti to other parts of Nigeria and to international destinations, including London. He said the airline would be the first to lift commercial cargo from the airport once the state is ready for exports.

He also revealed that the airline plans to begin daily flights in and out of Ekiti.

According to him, United Nigeria Airlines is the second-largest consumer of aviation fuel in Nigeria after Air Peace, noting that its growing operations at the Ekiti Airport would benefit the newly commissioned fuel facility.

Speaking on how the partnership with the state government came about, Okonkwo said the airline did not apply or lobby for it and did not pay any bribe. He said the state government conducted its own due diligence, compared the airline with others in the country, and approached it based on its fleet and operational capacity.

He added that the airline had at a point accepted reduced passenger loads, carrying 40 passengers instead of 50 on some flights during a period of low demand, which he described as a sacrifice made out of trust in the partnership and confidence in the government’s commitment.

“We did not apply for this partnership. But if the government did their due diligence, found us worthy and capable of serving them, and approached us, I was very touched. And thank God the deal worked. And thank God we are part of what is happening today,” Okonkwo said.

“You have mentioned cargo agriculture. Let me promise you, His Excellency, for your own sake, I’m going to make sure that by January next year, we 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’s to other parts of Nigeria, it doesn’t have to be to London, but besides that, by that time, we’ll be flying to any part of the world. But if you have cargo by January we will be the first to lift your commercial cargo,” he added.

In his remarks, Governor Biodun Oyebanji, who presided over the event, pledged further government support for the airport and for private investors.

Oyebanji said the state is working to complete an upgrade of the airport by the end of the year, including an Instrument Landing System, ILS, upgrade that has been certified and an aerodrome ground lighting project costing over N10 billion.

He said once completed, the airport would be able to operate 24 hours, allowing aircraft to land at any time. He added that the state is also working on securing an Independent Power Producer, IPP, for the airport to ensure self-sufficiency in electricity supply.

The governor commended Reeve Energy Nigeria Limited for investing in the state and assured investors of continued government support.