Maiden Test Flight Landing At Gateway Agro-Cargo International Airport In Ogun State

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SPEECH DELIVERED BY HIS EXCELLENCY, PROF. YEMI OSINBAJO, SAN, GCON, THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, ON WELCOMING THE MAIDEN TEST FLIGHT AT THE GATEWAY AGRO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, IKENNE, OGUN STATE ON THE 23RD OF FEBRUARY, 2023

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Today, I am super proud of being a citizen of Ogun State and for that matter, a proud son of Ikenne, and the Ikenne Local Government. So, it is with great pride and joy that I join you here today, to witness an incredibly momentous event: the maiden test flight to the recently constructed Gateway Agro International Airport of Ogun State, Nigeria.

As we made our descent from our own chopper, we were able to see the runway, a state-of-the-art 4-kilometre facility able to take a Boeing 747 aircraft and even an Airbus A380 aircraft. A runway doesn’t get better than this. If we say it is the best in Ogun State, that is not true, it is not just the best in Nigeria, it is a world-class airport we are here to see,

With what we all see here this afternoon; Ogun State is definitely taking a huge step forward in fulfilling the dreams of our forebears; dreams of Chief Obafemi Awolowo and those who worked with him. A dream of a vibrant, modern and industrious community living together in peace and prosperity. A dream of Ogun State that is the engine room of our nation’s economy, commerce and business.

But we must pause to commend the first visioner of this airport, Otunba Gbenga Daniel who as Governor, conceived this airport and went as far as getting approval from the Federal Government. It is a tribute to the wisdom and understanding of our current Governor, Prince Dr Dapo Abiodun, MFR that he took it from the idea, re-envisioned it in the light of the opportunities, needs, requirements and realities of today, birthed the Gateway Agro International Airport, Ogun State.

This project is the fulfilment of a vision but the airport is only the infrastructure for building a dynamic economic area.  We are now poised to provide facilities for a world-class economic zone.

But what a day this is, all of us are witnesses to the first fully functional Agro Cargo Airport in our country, we are witnesses to the landing of the first commercial aircraft at this airport and we saw the crew of the airport live. And the commercial jet itself is one of the fleets of aircraft of Valuejet, owned by Kunle Soname, a son of Remo and in particular, Ikenne and Ikenne Local Government.

But we must also mention the fact that the man responsible for actually building this airport the Honourable Commissioner for Works, Mr Akinsanya, is also a son of Ikenne and the Ikenne Local Government. The Governor said to me, it is the hard work and commitment of that man that built this airport.

The future is even more exciting than today. The airport will serve the Special Agriculture Processing Zones established with the generous assistance of the African Development Bank. It is also an essential tool in our preparation for full participation as serious players in the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement. In a few months, Kajola Dry Port will be operational.

I am confident that this airport will transform the entire Southwest region, and serve as a catalyst for economic growth and development in our nation and sub-region.

I, therefore, congratulate the serious-minded, business-minded, forward-thinking, performance-oriented Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dr Dapo Abiodun and his remarkable team, and the people of Ogun State on this remarkable feat.  I am immensely proud of what has achieved here.

This is how we build a modern, prosperous future for all Nigerians. I have no doubt that the culture of innovation and progress that the Gateway Agro International Airport has already brought, will continue to motivate the people of Ogun State even more.

I invite you to join me in a celebration of this amazing achievement. Congratulations to Mr Governor, his team and all of those that made this possible!

God bless Ogun State and God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Thank you very much.