Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and other dignitaries witnessed the landing of the maiden test flight at the Gateway International Agro-Cargo Airport in Iperu-Ilishan, Ogun State.
Speaking at the occasion, Osinbajo commended the state government for reviving the airport — a project conceived 14 years ago.
He said the achievement exemplified actions that could build a modern Nigeria, according to a tweet on Thursday by his spokesperson, Laolu Akande.
“This is how we build a modern and prosperous Nigeria,” Osinbajo was quoted as saying.
Also celebrating the milestone, Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, said his administration has achieved “the unthinkable within our first four years in office”.
“The first air plane touching-down and taking-off at the Gateway International Agro-Cargo Airport in Iperu-Ilishan in Ogun State,” he tweeted.
The agro-cargo airport was conceptualised in 2009 with a goal to stimulate the state’s economy but construction started in April
In November 2022, Abiodun had said the $400 million special agro-industrial processing zone (SAPZ) project, sited at the agro-cargo airport will be executed by the state government in partnership with Arise Integrated Industrial Platforms.
He said apart from the SAPZ, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) had decided to situate one of its biggest facilities in the airport.
In a statement, Ogun Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Ade Akinsanya, said the airport would also stimulate the growth of other sectors “such as commerce and agriculture as well as tourism opportunities”.
“It would increase economic activities through the provision of employment for not less than 25,000 people through the agricultural value chain,” he said.
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