Cargo airport: Ogun State is now open to the World as an industrial capital — Gov. Abiodun
The Ogun state Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun has stated that the state is now more open to the world and investors upon commencement of commercial operations at the State’s Cargo Airport in Iperu.
The Governor who spoke to journalists noted that, “Immediately we assumed office, we decided that it was necessary to have a transportation master plan as we considered transportation as a key enabler for our various industries to thrive. We now have what we call a multimodal master plan. This master plan defines the connection among roads, rail, and air transportation.
“We have since begun the implementation four years and a few months down the road. We have built a world-class airport in Ogun State. This airport story started in 2006 when it was licensed as an airport. When it was approved, it remained what we called a ‘PowerPoint’ airport.
“However, after our master plan, we decided that we must be adequately informed as to where the airport should be located, and from all indications, the airport was located where it was originally approved, somewhere in the Ikenne Local Government Area between Ilishan and Iperu.
“It was built as a cargo and passenger airport, but it is an international airport. It was built to be a truly international airport in line with global best practices. It is the airport with the longest runway in Nigeria.”
Speaking further, Prince Abiodun said that the location of the airport represents the centre point of Ogun State.
“It is easily accessible. It is joined by two major highways – the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and Sagamu-Benin Expressway. It is bound within our major plantations. It is co-located in our special agro-processing zone, and thus, we call that airport location our ‘aerotropolis’. That airport was built within two years. The first flight landed sometime last year.”
He revealed further that the airport is billed to commence commercial operations before the end of the year.
Abiodun attributed the growth of the state to his administration’s creative policy of exploring the inherent comparative advantage of the state’s geographical location as the only neighbour that Lagos State has.
“Lagos remains the economic capital of Nigeria and the financial nerve centre, and being the only neighbour that Lagos State has, we are what I would describe as the New Jersey of Nigeria. What New Jersey is to New York is what Ogun State is to Lagos State. So, we represent the overflow of Lagos. Ogun State is 16,000 square kilometres in size.
“We are about four times the size of Lagos State; we have an expansive land size. Also, you can’t go to any part of the country without going through Ogun State, either by land, sea, or air. So, that in itself represents our comparative advantage over other states.
“We are also a neighbour to the sub-African region through the Republic of Benin. Today, you will find out that there are a lot of companies, industries, and manufacturers that have been in Ogun State for years. And the primary reason for that is, one, Lagos State houses the busiest airport and the busiest seaports.
“They can bring their raw materials from Lagos to Ogun State, process them, distribute them back to Lagos, or distribute them to the hinterlands. But beyond that, we also enjoy a crisscross of natural gas pipelines. So, beyond the convenience of being close to the busiest seaport and the financial capital, industries have found their home here because they have access to power through natural gas,” the Governor explained.
