SIR: The Otunba Gbenga Daniel (OGD) administration conceptualized the agro-cargo airport project in the belief that it had lots of potential in the overall development of the state on the spine of the state’s rich soil for agriculture, the presence of industries in the state and its proximity to Lagos State. The next administration led by Senator Ibikunle Amosun would neglect the project and allow it to rot in the book of forgetfulness. Prince Dapo Abiodun saw the gold Amosun abandoned in the bush— the agro-cargo airport— picked it up, and he is shining it at the moment and it would soon, by December as promised by the governor, glitter and magnetise people, institution and funds to Ogun State.
The cargo airport is located within the agricultural belt in the state. It is strategically located at the intersection between the East and West highway (Benin-Sagamu) and the North-South highway (Lagos-Ibadan) which makes it a potential honeypot. It is the economic deal with the African Development Bank to site an agro testing firm at Sagamu as most of the agricultural products in Nigeria lack certification, which has made their exportation to other countries difficult. This will ease things and put more funds into the state government’s purse.
No state’s problems can be solved by a single administration. And that validates the saying that “governance is a continuum”. The utmost concern should be that progress is recorded by each administration. Our forebears’ counsel that whatever faces us is turning its back on someone somewhere is of essence here. Two things are common with those in politics and their infantry: When they do not like a leader either on a personal or political level, they are quick to rubbish their achievement and refer to them as a failure. There is the dispiriting dimension of labelling a leader a failure when they cannot meet our unrealistic or selfish expectations.
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Aside from the fact that the airport will be serve the twin function of transporting goods, it will also provide passenger service too which will certainly court the attention of the Lekki dwellers with ready access to the Lekki-Ijebu expressway devoid of traffic they may encounter trying to go to Murtala Muhammed Airport Ikeja. It will also interest the people of Ibadan, Osun and so on who are close to Ogun State. Lest I forget, while it provides formal employment, it will also create informal job opportunities as the people of Remo, Ijebu and Abeokuta who are close to the site can profitably trade.
Prince Dapo Abiodun has proved to be a good governor and businessman. He knew that, if there was an airport, there would be products and passengers and, if there were products and passengers, there would be aircraft to ply the route and profits would move into the government’s purse. Thus, credit goes to ex-Governor Daniel for the vision and Abiodun for bringing that vision to fruition as his Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Ade Akinsanya, said the airport is almost 80 per cent completed.
Overall, Prince Dapo Abiodun must be given a standing ovation for the courage he has displayed for embarking on the monumental airport project. He is working and walking on the path that no one had dared before him by elongating the vision of his predecessor with the improvement on his predecessor’s blueprint for the project and the establishment of a potential source of income for the state.
- Oladipo Oseni,
osenioladipupo90@gmail.com