The Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and Governor of Kwara State, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has described the Gateway Agro-Cargo International Airport as a game changer in the country’s aviation sector.
Mallam AbdulRazaq stated this in an interview with journalists after a courtesy visit to his Ogun State counterpart, Prince Dapo Abiodun, at the Governor’s Office, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.
The Kwara State Governor had earlier commissioned the 6km Siun-Owode Road in the Obafemi Owode Local Government area of the state.
According to him, when the new airport is finally commissioned, it would relieve the Muritala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos State of both passenger and cargo transportation and also help to decongest the airport.
He said: “The Iperu International Cargo Airport is also a game changer. It is my second or third time landing there, and I must say it is more of an economic airport. It will change the way things will be done in the future.
“It will relieve Lagos airport of cargo and with industrial park going on in the state, the two major industrial park going on in the state and one been funded by AFDB and the other by AFREXIM Bank,” he said.
Mallam AbdulRazaq described the quality of work being done in the state by Governor Abiodun as impressive, adding that the quality of work done on the 6km Siun-Owode road would ensure it lasts for more years.
AbdulRazaq also described the road as unprecedented, especially at a time of inflation globally. He said that the state is certain to benefit from new investments that would come courtesy of the investment drive of Governor Abiodun.
“I commissioned the 6km Siun-Owode road this morning. It is unprecedented and with the rate of inflation these days. It is a huge challenge to commission or build one kilometre, talkless of six kilometres.
“Infrastructure work going on in this state is quite impressive. The quality of the road today is quite impressive, and the drainage is first class. That road will last at least twenty years.
“In terms of investment, Ogun State will be recovering a major part of new investments, green field investments in Nigeria today. Kudos to Governor Dapo Abiodun for the work he is doing,” he said.
The Governor’s Forum chairman while noting that economic challenges are worldwide, said that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is setting the pace by ensuring the delivery of grains to the people of the country to tackle the current hardship being experienced by Nigerias.
“Economic challenges are worldwide. It is not a Nigerian phenomenon alone. Ghana, Cote D’Ivoire, even the United States are facing the same thkng. It is a global phemenon.
“The president has set the pace and as you noticed today. The federal government is delivering grain across all the states in Nigeria, and all the states are doing their best in supplying palliatives,” he said.
He said that it was important to also focus on human capital development as well as maintain the standards in hospitals and schools in the country.
He further commended President Tinubu for launching the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Fund to bridge the gap in infrastructure deficit.
“But, while we are doing all that palliatives daily, we must put our eyes on the ball. We must make sure we focus on human capital development and maintain the standards in our hospitals and schools. Fix school infrastructure, fix education infrastructure, not divert all attention to palliatives, while leaving the job undone.
“We have great challenges in infrastructure. That is why you see that the president has launched the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Fund basically to mitigate this challenge. We can not compete globally without having solid infrastructure in place,” he added.
