The Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, on Thursday, lauded the Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, as he unveiled the Gateway Agro-Cargo Airport.
Osinbajo spoke at the maiden commercial flight of the airport located on Iperu-Lishan road in the Ikenne Local Government Area of Ogun State.
The VP described the agro-cargo airport as a world class project worthy of emulation.
Osinbajo also disclosed that the Kajola Dry Port in the state would soon become operational in a few months time.
The VP noted that the state had taken a huge step in fulfilling the dreams of the forebears to have a vibrant, modern and industrious community.
He described the airport as the dream of the state which is the engine room of the nation’s economy, commerce and business.
“This airport isn’t just the best in Nigeria, it is a world class airport that we are here to see.
“Ogun State has definitely taken a huge step in fulfilling the dreams of our forebears, the dreams of Chief Obafemi Awolowo and the dreams of others, the dreams of a vibrant modern and industrious community leaving together in peace and prosperity
“A dream of Ogun State that is the engine room of our nation’s economy and our nation’s commerce and business.
“In a few months, the Kajola Dry Port will also be operational and I am confident that this airport will transform the entire South West region and serve as catalyst for economic growth and the development of our nation and sub region,” he said.
Speaking on the significance of airport, Osinbajo noted that an airport is only an infrastructure for building a dynamic economic area.
He said that Ogun government was now poised to provide facilities for a world class economic zone.
The Vice President, while noting that the airport would serve the special agro-processing zone which was recently established through the generous assistance of the African Development Bank, disclosed that the airport was an essential tool in the preparation of the country for full participation as serious players in the African Continental Free Trade Agreement.
Also speaking at the aviation event, the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, disclosed that airports have a way of connecting business.
He stated that the airport is a product of people who sat down to think about what can be done to improve the socio-economic development of the people of the state.
Sirika, who noted that the gains of the airport will not be seen at the moment but in the future, said its gains with the ability to carry cargo from one place to another could not be quantified.
The governor, Dapo Abiodun, in his remarks noted that the airport marked the actualisation of a dream by former Governor Gbenga Daniel.
He added that the development of the airport was in alignment with his administration’s desire to provide a conducive atmosphere for industries to not only berth in the state, but to record success.
Abiodun disclosed that the choice of the location would allow for easy access from different parts of the state.
He added that the eastern and northern regions of the country could also be accessed from the airport.
The governor, who added that the country was currently pursuing strategies to promote the export of goods and services, noted that the Ogun State International Agro-Cargo Airport would be critical in achieving the objective.
He noted that the airport was part of an integrated development programme aimed at unleashing the full potential of the state.
He added that his administration was also currently pursuing the commencement of a dry port in Kajola in the Ogun Central Senatorial district of the state.
