The Ogun commissioner for finance, Dapo Okubadejo, says the agro-cargo airport will be ready for use before the end of the year’s first quarter.

Mr Okubadejo disclosed this while giving a breakdown of the state’s 2023 budget to journalists in Abeokuta on Wednesday. He said the government had concluded plans to launch Ogun’s ultra-modern transport scheme during the year.

The commissioner further stated that the airport would provide both cargo and passenger services when it came on stream.

“It is not just an airport. The facility is an aerotropolis, an airport city. The aim is to improve the economic viability of the state. It has complementary facilities that will support its viability,” said Mr Okubadejo. “It will have logistics and distribution zones, trailer parks, and warehouse, among others. The airport will also have maintenance repairs and operation facility, which is one of the very few in West Africa.”

Mr Okubadejo said the government would soon conclude discussions with investors to assist it in unlocking the opportunities in the Olokola Free Trade Zone.

“All these are efforts intended to improve the socio-economic development of the state,” said the Ogun official. 

He added that the Ogun government would depend mostly on public-private partnerships to achieve the projects. The commissioner said the state government would take steps to explore the possibility of discovering oil in the state during the year.

Mr Okubadejo said, “We will make efforts to discover oil both in Tongeji Island and Ogun Waterside so that we can be part of oil-producing states.” 

(NAN)