Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun has said the Gateway Agro Cargo Airport in Ilishan Remo will run commercial flights when completed.
Authorities of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) and the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) have indicated interest in establishing their operational bases at the airport.
Prince Abiodun made this known at an interactive meeting with leaders of community development councils and associations in the 20 local governments, held in his office at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.
He said some airlines had shown interest in operating commercial flights at the airport, which would boost the state’s economy.
“Work is ongoing at our Cargo Airport at Ilisan-Remo. I want to inform you that Nigerian Air Force and the Nigeria Customs Service have written to me that they will like to have their operational bases at the airport when it is ready.
“Some commercial airlines operating in the country have also shown interest in the airport. That means by the grace of God, when the airport starts operations this December, people in Ogun State will have the opportunity to board their flights from there to anywhere they want to go, rather than going to Lagos,” he said.
The governor said his administration’s decision to build the airport is to ensure the state benefits from being the industrial hub of the country, as well as the value chains that come from such a gigantic project.
The agro-cargo airport was revived by the current administration after being abandoned by former governor Ibikunle Amosun.
Its construction began in March. When completed by December, it will probably become the fastest constructed airport on the continent.
The project, when operational, will provide 25,000 jobs for the indigenes.
Prince Abiodun also spoke about plans by his administration to further open up the state for more investment and social activities.
He said the Ogun Light Up project that would ensure constant power in the state would start in Abeokuta and spread to other parts of the state, adding that Mowe, Ibafo and Abeokuta would benefit from the urbanisation project.
The governor told community leaders that his administration had started implementing its Multimodal Transportation System with the launch of a pilot Bus Transit programme in Abeokuta.
He said the reconstruction of major federal roads such as the Ijebu-Ode-Epe, Sagamu-Siun-Abeokuta and Atan-Lusada-Agbara roads, was to ensure that people carried out economic activities without stress.