Tinubu inaugurates airport, Customs facility in Ogun

President Bola Tinubu on Saturday inaugurated two major infrastructure projects in Ogun State, a multi-billion naira agro-cargo airport and a modern Nigeria Customs Service facility. The President landed at the newly completed airport aboard a full Airbus aircraft, demonstrating the operational capacity of the facility, which is expected to boost agricultural exports and logistics within […]

President Bola Tinubu on Saturday inaugurated two major infrastructure projects in Ogun State, a multi-billion naira agro-cargo airport and a modern Nigeria Customs Service facility.

The President landed at the newly completed airport aboard a full Airbus aircraft, demonstrating the operational capacity of the facility, which is expected to boost agricultural exports and logistics within the state.

Also commissioned was a N73 billion office complex belonging to the Nigeria Customs Service Federal Operations Unit, Zone A, located in Iperu, Ogun State.

The complex features administrative buildings, a training college and a warehouse, aimed at enhancing operational efficiency and strengthening institutional capacity.

Speaking during the inauguration, Tinubu commended the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, for conceptualising what he described as a befitting facility for the unit.

In his remarks, Adeniyi explained that the relocation of the unit from its former base in Ikeja, Lagos, was necessitated by congestion and the need to improve service delivery.

According to him, the move aligns with the Service’s core mandates of revenue generation, trade facilitation and enforcement, while also improving the welfare of personnel.

The president who also inaugurated the state’s new airline, Gateway Airline, among other landmark projects, including road and housing projects, in the state lauded Governor Abiodun for his strides in office, saying that the Governor had justified the confidence reposed in him by the people of Ogun State.

He said the Gateway Airport is connected to investment in gas and energy, adding that the other projects of Governor Abiodun had shown his great commitment to development, which he said “must touch every level.”

The president expressed deep pleasure with Abiodun’s agric initiatives, and the 1000 electric bikes he had rolled out, describing this as “a smart response to modern transportation needs.”

Also speaking former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who thanked Tinubu for making the sacrifice to attend the event, said it was a very important occasion in the history of Ogun State.

He commended Governor Abiodun for building the airport, describing it as a landmark project.

He said: “I’ve landed here from Abuja and it took me 45 minutes from here to my home, which is at least 25 minutes shorter than if I had landed in Lagos.”

Abiodun in his address explained that when he assumed office, he realized that for Ogun State to maximize its proximity to Lagos, his government had to close the infrastructure gap.

Floating the state-owned airline, Gateway Airline, Abiodun said his government had constructed 1600 kilometres of roads, including the Epe-Ijebu Ode, Sango-Abeokuta Expressway, Ilishan Iperu Road, among others, the Muhammed Buhari estate, and over 7000 affordable homes.

He disclosed that the state is targeting 50 cargo flights before the end of the year from the newly inaugurated airport.

He said: “Beyond aviation, we have in the last 7 years made remarkable progress with more than 1,600km of constructed or rehabilitated road infrastructure. Noteworthy amongst others are the Epe Ijebu Ode expressway, Sagamu Interchange- Papalanto Expressway, Sango Abeokuta expressway and around here, the Sagamu Iperu Ode Remo Sapade expressway formerly known as the Old Ibadan road now renamed as Bola Ahmed Tinubu expressway (bypass alternate to Lagos Ibadan expressway) and the Ilishan Iperu road and the airport road that connects to Sagamu-Benin expressway (which you commissioned earlier) all enhancing connectivity and reducing travel time.”