Ekiti State’s Agro-Allied Cargo Airport Receives High Praise from Agriculture Minister Kyari
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, has commended the Ekiti State Government for its visionary approach to agribusiness development through the establishment of the State’s Agro-Allied International Cargo Airport. Describing the facility as a game-changer, he emphasized its potential to revolutionize food security, enhance agro-industrial growth, and boost the state’s economic prosperity.
During his working visit to Ipao Ekiti, Senator Kyari praised the state’s successful Public-Private Partnership model in agribusiness, noting that such collaborations were key to sustainable agricultural growth. His arrival at the Agro-Allied Cargo Airport at 12:22 PM on Monday underscored the facility’s significance as a vital link in the transportation of agricultural produce across Nigeria and beyond.
“The Agro-Allied Cargo Airport is a critical piece of infrastructure for driving food security and agribusiness to the next level. It ensures efficient farm produce transportation, facilitates agro-processing, and ultimately generates revenue for Ekiti State,” Kyari stated.
Highlighting the Federal Government’s commitment to food security, the Minister disclosed that a record-breaking 2.15 million bags (100,000 tons) of fertilizer were distributed free to farmers nationwide in 2024, leading to increased food production and a significant reduction in food prices. He reaffirmed the Federal Government’s support for Ekiti’s efforts in cassava production, processing, and value-chain expansion.
Ekiti State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Mr. Ebenezar Boluwade, applauded Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s leadership in making agriculture a priority sector. He revealed the government’s ambitious plan to double cassava production output from 2 million to 4 million tons annually by 2026.
Private sector leaders, including the Managing Director of Agbeyewa Farms, Mr. Seyi Ayeleso, also hailed the state’s thriving agribusiness environment, citing large-scale cassava cultivation and value-added processing as key contributors to economic transformation.
