The first flight on Thursday landed at the airport in Ogun State around 2 pm. It was received by the Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) and the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) who are on the ground to assess the state’s readiness for full operations.
Dignitaries at the event include Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives Dimeji Bankole, and state government officials among others.
“The airport will be utilized as a tool for full participation as a serious player in the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement, and also serve the Special Agriculture Processing Zones”, Osinbajo said.
Osinbajo also said in his speech said; “I congratulate the government and people of Ogun State for this enormous feat, especially Kunle Soname, a son of Remo, Ikenne, and owner of Value Jet, which was used for the test flight; and Hon. Commissioner of Works, Mr. Akinsanya, also a son of Ikenne, in the same Ikenne LGA, who was instrumental in bringing the Airport project to life”.
Sited on 500 hectares of land at Iperu in the Ikenne Local Government Area of the state, the Gateway Agro-Cargo Airport comes with standard features like a runway, control tower, terminal, administrative block, and fire station, among others.
The airport, conceptualised in 2009 with construction work beginning in April 2021, is expected to stimulate the state’s economy.
“The impact of the airport would stimulate the growth of other sectors such as commerce and agriculture as well as tourism opportunities,” Ogun State Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure Engr. Ade Akinsanya said in a statement.
“It would increase economic activities through the provision of employment for not less than 25,000 people through the agricultural value chain.”
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