Governor Dapo Abiodun with other dignitaries at Abeokuta Cargo Airport. PIX: Daily Post |
A Renowned investment banker and owner of five airports including Gatwick, Edinburg as well as Nuovo Transporto Viagiatori, Adebayo Ogunlesi, has commended the Governor Dapo Abiodun-led administration for building a world-class airport in Ogun State.
Ogunlesi, who is also the Chairman and Managing Partner of
Global Infrastructure Partners, gave this commendation in an interview with
newsmen shortly after he was conducted around the Gateway International Agro
Cargo Airport, located along Iperu-Ilisan road in Ikenne local council of the
state yesterday.
He described it as the fastest airport to be constructed
anywhere in the world.
“The place is fantastic. I was telling the governor that I
have never heard of any airport constructed so fast. In fact, when he told me,
I had to bow because I have never heard of an airport built in two years and
the concept, the idea, the location and the strategic nature of this airport is
fantastic.
“These are exactly the things we need in Nigeria; this is
what will take Nigeria forward to the next century and beyond.
“I am ecstatic because as the governor mentioned, the
government role is to facilitate the development of the airport; the government
has no interest in running airports. There are people whose businesses are to
run airports; so we get it built, we get it financed,” he said.
Ogunlesi said the airport built to international standard is
capable of taking any size of plane, noting: “The governor said once we get it
built, we will find somebody who is in the business of running airport to come
and manage it professionally and by the way, they will pay taxes to the
government. So that will be good, that is the way things should be done.
“Think about the strategic location, right in the middle of
Ogun State with access to two critical super highways. Think about all of the
industrial facilities that can be built around this airport, all the jobs that
will be created. I think Mr. Governor is visionary.”
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