Ogun Agro-Cargo airport to host training school, aircraft maintenance hub
By Oyindamola Grace
The Ogun State Government is set to host a flight training school and aircraft maintenance hub at its nearly completed Gateway International Agro Cargo and Passenger Airport.
The President, Air First Maintenance and Repair Facility, Gbolahan Abatan, made this known in an interview with journalists shortly after meeting with the Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun in his office.
The facility, when fully operational, would ensure that aircraft no longer travel outside Nigeria for routine maintenance.
Abatan noted that the company was looking forward to working with the state government in the development of the Aircraft Maintenance Facility at the Agro Cargo Airport, Ilishan Remo.
According to him, the company also plans to start aircraft assembling at the facility.
He further said that the company, when fully operational, would create jobs for the locals and people from other states.
He commended Governor Abiodun for building a world-class airport in the state.
“We had a great discussion (with the governor), and the encouraging thing is that the Governor has given us the assurance that he will give us all the necessary support to get things going.
“So, hopefully, with our certification process in place, we should be able to move in by the end of June to commence our activities at the airport.
“We also want to establish our flight training school for young pilots and auto engineers to be trained as well and we already have some airplanes in mind to use and we will eventually be able to assemble the airplane when we bring them in to be able to create jobs for the local indigenes and indigenes from other states,” he said.
In his remarks, Commissioner for Transportation, Engr. Gbenga Dairo noted that the facilities at the airport are first class with the longest runway in the country, adding that the technology being deployed at the airport for aircraft and airport management is the best.
Dairo, while noting that Air First has a track record of excellence in aircraft maintenance, added that the state is delighted with the citing of the foremost aircraft maintenance company at the airport.