The Gateway Agro-Cargo Airport, located along Iperu-Ilishan road in Ikenne Local Government Area of Ogun State in February this year witnessed the maiden commercial flight.
The project which was envisioned by the former governor, Sen. Gbenga Daniel sometimes in 2005 was eventually abandoned due to paucity of funds and political instability which characterised the second term of the former governor between 2007 and 2011.
The project which will have other facilities like the agro processing zone, warehouses among others is touted to have the capacity to generate over 20,000 job opportunities.
Gov. Dapo Abiodun on getting to the helms of affairs in May 2019 had however taken up the gauntlet promising to see to the successful execution of the project due to its immeasurable impacts on the economic prosperity of the state.
Gov. Abiodun has therefore rolled up his sleeves, rewarded the contract and ensured that the project received adequate funding so as to be counted among the legacies his government will be leaving behind when he is done with governing the state probably in 2027.
Speaking during the maiden test flight, Gov. Abiodun, noted that the airport marked the actualisation of a dream by former Gov. Gbenga Daniel, adding 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 who disclosed that the choice of the location would allow for easy access from different parts of the state, added that the Eastern and Northern region of the country can 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 will be critical in achieving the objective.
While noting 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 Ogun Central Senatorial district of the state.
The state helmsman added that his administration was also pursuing the construction of the Olokola Port, disclosing that he has no doubt that the port would help to decongest the Apapa Port.
The Governor equally said that the airport would become the alternative airport to the Muritala Muhammad International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos and it was already being considered as the export terminal of non oil in the country.
Speaking on this noble project, the former Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo said the state had taken a huge step in fulfilling the dreams of the forebears to have a vibrant, modern and industrious community, describing the Agro Cargo Airport as the dream of the state which is the engine room of the nation’s economy, commerce and business.
Osinbajo revealed further that the multi billion naira investment would definitely change the face of commerce and the deliberate drive to industrialise the Southwest and the whole country at large.
The billionaire entrepreneur, Femi Otedola was quoted recently to have also saluted the courage of Gov Dapo Abiodun to invest in such huge multi-billion naira project describing it as real game changer to enhancing the economic prosperity of the state.
While people are lauding Gov. Abiodun for this noble initiative, they are however worried that this lofty project is not moving as fast as it could and may not be completed on time or as scheduled for commissioning in December.
It is the opinion of the the people that since the election was over, the project just like many other in the state have not gotten required attention from the Governor and has therefore been stagnated.
It is against this background that many residents of the state are asking the Governor to quickly get done with having the cabinet members that would assist him to get project like this delivered on time.
It is believed that with the availability of more fund as a result of the subsidy removal from the petroleum products, Gov. Abiodun should double up his efforts and ensure that this airport takes off without further delay latest by December.
It is the widely held opinion that the Governor or anyone at that should never play politics with this project but should ensure that the Agro-Cargo Airport becomes a reality given the humongous economic opportunities it will throw up for the residents of Ogun and Nigeria as a whole.