The Ogun State International Agro Cargo Airport, Ilisan Remo, would attract more investment and industrialization when completed before the end of the year, Special Adviser to the state’s Governor Dapo Abiodun on Works & Infrastructure Ade Akinsanya has assured.
The Adviser stated this while leading a delegations of National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Group 1, Senior Executive Course 45, 2023, Kuru, Jos, to the site of the project, describing the project as a Class E Airport.
He said four-kilometer runway has attained about 95 percent completion and would be completed before the end of this month, saying that the strategic location of the airport as its unique selling point would drive its status as an aerotropolis – an airport city.
He said the Nigerian Customs Service had paid for its site of operation as a collaborating agencies in establishing Airport, saying that Nigerian Air Force and other agencies are looking at investment windows opportunities for the project.
Akinsanya, while speaking on the project’s scope, he said it would accommodate two terminals for passengers/cargo operations, which would open job opportunities for the inhabitants of the communities.
“The four-kilometre runway is ready, the construction of the fire station is on, the control tower and the administrative building is there and those are the essential components of an airport. Every other thing as you know is luxury and comfort.
“We are not just building an airport. We are building an aerotropolis. We are bringing different people and don’t forget this is a specialised airport as it will be an agro-cargo airport. Though, there is another facility for passenger operations”, Adesanya said
He also added that the Airport has six access locations, which are Lagos-Sagamu, Lagos-Ibadan, and Lagos-Epe, saying that its location is strategic as there are six access points for ease of users.
“Indeed, for this airport, you can access it through six locations; Lagos-Sagamu, Lagos-Ibadan, Lagos-Epe. I don’t think any airport can rival it anywhere within this country, and the facility is unique.
“The standards we are meeting are world class. We have perimeter fencing at the airport from the beginning, unlike some of the airports that we have around in Nigeria. In front of the perimeter fencing, you will also have security roads on both sides for patrol. We don’t want intruders coming into the airport. ” the Adviser said
Responding, leader of the delegation NIPSS, Prof. Oluwafunmilayo Para-Mallam, said that they have toured the almost project sites, assuring that Ogun State was ready for the modern industrialisation, investment drive and climate change barriers.
She said that with the facilities put in places at Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye and Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), Ijagun, Ijebu-Ode, on climate change, it was obvious that the state was set to curtail the effect of the climate change in the country, appreciating the present administration-led by Prince Dapo Abiodun for a hitch-free tour of the state and hospitality.
Packaged by Hazeez Ayansola
