Ebonyi, Ekiti, 4 Other Governors Under Fire for Spending N160bn on Unviable Airports

In a controversial development, six Nigerian state governments—Ekiti, Ebonyi, Jigawa, Yobe, Nasarawa, and Bayelsa—have come under heavy criticism for spending approximately N160 billion on airport projects that aviation experts and opposition politicians have deemed unviable.

Despite the significant investment, these airports have failed to attract substantial traffic, raising concerns about the misuse of public funds. Industry stakeholders have expressed frustration over what they see as wasteful expenditures, with calls for the governors involved to be held accountable. There have also been suggestions that the facilities be repurposed as skill acquisition centers to benefit the local population.

Investigations reveal that these six states poured billions into the construction of airports that have yet to become operational or financially sustainable. This trend is not new; in the last decade, several other states, including Osun, Ogun, and Benue, have embarked on similar airport projects, many of which remain incomplete or underutilized.

One of the most notable cases is the Anambra State cargo airport, initiated by former Governor Willie Obiano in 2017, despite the state being surrounded by airports in Delta, Imo, and Enugu. The project was initially estimated to cost $2 billion but was later claimed to have been completed for N6 billion. The airport is still struggling to meet operational expectations.

In Ekiti State, former Governor Kayode Fayemi spent N16 billion on the construction of an airport that has yet to attract regular flights. The current administration, led by Governor Biodun Oyebanji, insists that the airport will soon be operational, but opposition politicians argue that the project was unnecessary and represents a poor use of the state’s limited resources.

Similar stories are unfolding in Jigawa, Bayelsa, and Yobe states, where billions have been spent on airports with little to show for it. Aviation experts, like Olumide Ohunayo and Group Captain John Ojikutu (retd.), have questioned the rationale behind these projects, pointing out the lack of proper planning and the absence of viable business models.

The situation has sparked debate about the priorities of state governments and the need for more rigorous oversight of public spending. Critics argue that resources could have been better allocated to more pressing needs, such as infrastructure and social services, rather than investing in airports with doubtful economic viability.