Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has announced that the newly completed Gateway International Agro Cargo Airport project will create job opportunities for 25,000 unemployed youths in Ogun.
Governor Abiodun said the airport project will also include other developmental initiatives such as the Special Agro Processing Zone (SAPZ) located in the metropolis.
AgroNigeria gathered that the mega airport aims to enhance the export of agricultural and non-agricultural goods, leading to increased social and economic activities and ultimately boosting the state’s revenue generation.
Yesterday marked a significant milestone for Ogun State as the first commercial flight successfully landed at the Gateway Agro Cargo International Airport located along Iperu-Ilishan Road in Ikenne Local Government Area.
The Agro Cargo Airport was initiated during the Gbenga Daniel administration in 2005 but under Dapo Abiodun’s leadership, the project was actualised.
Governor Abiodun, during the event, explained that the maiden test flight was a crucial step towards achieving full certification and licensing for safe aviation operations.
He pointed out that the airport’s development was strategically timed, coinciding with the effectiveness of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area agreement, adding that the airport was poised to play a pivotal role in promoting increased export activity, serving as a key departure point for export goods.
The Agro Cargo Airport’s significance is further amplified by the establishment of the African Development Bank-sponsored SAPZ within the airport zone, in collaboration with the Federal Government.
This zone will encompass various industrial and logistics activity centers, creating an Aerotropolis that will benefit from the airport and air transportation services.