President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has officially inaugurated the Gateway Cargo International Airport in Iperu.
The President who launched two new aircraft for Ogun State’s Gateway Airline, also commissioned 1,000 electric bikes, a fleet of security vehicles, and a comprehensive Customs Hub featuring barracks, a training college, and a hospital.
During the launch, President Bola Tinubu described the project and accompanying initiatives as a foundation for “tomorrow’s prosperity”, while reiterating that his administration’s economic reforms are designed to funnel more resources to states for high-impact projects that benefit the citizenry directly.
While commissioning the 1,000 electric bikes, Tinubu described them as a “smart response” to modern transportation needs and a move away from fossil fuel dependency.
PBAT also commissioned new tractors for agricultural development and a ₦73 billion Customs Hub aimed at enhancing the ease of doing business while providing modern facilities for the Nigeria Customs Service.
Tinubu who noted that the new airport is powered by an independent energy source that reflected a core pillar of his administration’s investment strategy, commended Governor Dapo Abiodun for his visionary leadership, stating that: “Ogun State’s initiatives align perfectly with the “Renewed Hope Agenda”.
Our investment is about our people, the infrastructure underscores our faith in our country, development must touch every level”, he said.
The Senate President Godswill Akpabio who was at the event used the opportunity to urge The President to consider decentralizing the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).
Akpabio argued that a decentralized model would create a more effective power system, while citing the independent power plant models first initiated by Tinubu during his tenure as Governor of Lagos State, as a good example.
Akpabio further noted that federal reforms have significantly boosted Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) for sub-nationals, which allowed states to fund major projects as well as pay salaries without resorting to heavy borrowing.
The Former President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo who was at the event also offered words of appreciation, while noting that the rapid development of Ogun State over the last 50 years, which brought about the establishment an international cargo airport, was once unthinkable.
The host Governor, Dapo Abiodun while thanking the President for the visit, described it as a symbolic endorsement of sub-national governments which is regarded as the primary catalyst for a national growth.
The high-profile event which was attended by The Former President of Nigeria, Aare Olusegun Obasanjo, The Senate President-Godswill Akpabio, drew a significant turnout of the nation’s economic and political powerhouse vis-a-vis The Nigerian Finance Minister -Wale Edun, Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo and CBN Governor Olayemi Cardoso as well as numerous other traditional rulers and governors from across Nigeria, which depicted a unified front for sub-national development.
