The Ogun State Government has presented its progress report on its agro-cargo international airport currently under construction.
Mr. Dapo Okubadejo, the state Commissioner for Finance, disclosed this at the 2021 CHINET Aviation and Cargo Conference on Thursday in Lagos.
The conference was put together by a tourism promoter, Mr. Ikechi Uko.
According to the commissioner, work is currently in progress at the agro-cargo international airport without hitches, noting that the state has lots of opportunities for market accessibility.
He noted that the state had a 74 per cent land mass of arable land and was located within 2.5km distance to the Afrexim Africa Quality Assurance Centre, an international quality standard testing centre for exports.
“Ogun State is located within an hour’s driving distance to the fast-developing Lekki free trade zone and Lekki port, with Dangote refinery and other petrochemical service companies.
“These and lots more factors will make the state thrive well, considering our objectives for economic growth,” he said.
Okubadejo said that products and service offerings of the agro-cargo airport would focus on aeronautical services, commercial activities, refuelling activities, and rental income.
“Our operating model will cover airport management, financial reporting, treasury, corporate governance, risk management, human resources, information technology operations, health, safety, and environment,” he stated.
The commissioner added that the business model for the airport would also have the state continue to leverage its relationship with financial institutions for bespoke financial services, including cheap finding arrangements, insurance services, and more.
According to him, the airport will adopt industry best practices by periodically seeking advice and action plans from technical experts like the International Civil Aviation Organisation.
He explained that the cargo international airport would also constantly engage industry players, farmers associations,s and other relevant trade associations like the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
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“The airline will manage relationships with economic clusters across, through a designated distribution and logistics hub, leveraging its strategic location and gateway status.
“The airline will also partner with global reserve institutions like the Institute of Air and Transport Research, to enable operational efficiency improvements across airport functions,” he said.
The commissioner displayed pictures of the airport’s 3.4km runway, entrance, four lanes with median assess that was under construction, as well as the aircraft’s rescue and fire fighting building.
He also displayed designs of the air traffic control tower and terminal building.
