Ogun State Government said a deal had been reached with the African Development Bank to site an agro testing firm at Sagamu to service the ongoing Gateway Cargo Airport.
The government said the airport which is almost 80 percent completed, will be viable when completed.
The Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Ade Akinsanya, said this while speaking on the project on Sunday.
Akinsanya said its viability was not in doubt as the entire surroundings would be a hub for activities in all spheres.
He said, “The new cargo airport, apart from being a project with great future prospects is also going to be viable because of its location and the many facilities planned around it as an aerotropolis.
“The airport is almost 80 percent completed. A deal has been reached with African Development Bank to site an agro-testing firm at Sagamu to service the airport.
“The testing facility will ensure the exportation of more agricultural products from Nigeria. For now, because of lack of certification, some of these products cannot be exported to other countries.
“Most of the cargoes going into the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), from the hinterland, especially from some states in the Southwest will be diverted to the new cargo airport because of the difficulty in reaching Lagos due to traffic congestion, he added.
“The cargo airport can be accessed through Abeokuta-Sagamu, Lagos-Ibadan, Lagos- Ore- Benin and Lagos-Epe roads, which makes its location unique.
“The airport has been described as the first of its kind and the fastest to be built in Nigeria. It was conceived 10 years ago be the administration of Governor Gbenga Daniel. But, its actual construction was started by the Dapo Abiodun administration last year.
“Apart from being centre for cargo, the airport will also run passenger flights with many airlines already indication interest.”
The state government also expects the airport to further open up the Sagamu Interchange area as well as the stretch between the interchange to Lagos on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, which is already opening up as an industrial hub, with the siting of many industries.
