PARIS OLYMPIC GAMES
The Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and Kwara Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has described the Gateway Agro-Cargo International Airport as a game changer in the country’s aviation sector.
AbdulRazaq said this in an interview with journalists after a courtesy visit to his Ogun State counterpart, Prince Dapo Abiodun, at the Governor’s Office, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.
Persecondnews reports that the Kwara Governor had earlier commissioned the 6-kilometre Siun-Owode Road in the Obafemi Owode Local Government area of the state.
He said once the new airport is operational, it will relieve the Muritala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos State of both passenger and cargo transportation, thereby contributing to its decongestion.
He said: “The Iperu International Cargo Airport is also a game changer. It is my second or third time landing there, and I must say it is more of an economic airport. It will change the way things will be done in the future.
“It will relieve Lagos airport of cargo, and with industrial parks going on in the state, two major industrial parks are going on in the state, one being funded by AfDB and the other by AFREXIM Bank,” he said.
AbdulRazaq described the quality of work being done in the state by Governor Abiodun as impressive, adding that the quality of work done on the 6km Siun-Owode road would ensure it lasts for more years.
AbdulRazaq also described the road as unprecedented, especially in a time of global inflation.
He said that the state is certain to benefit from new investments that would come courtesy of the investment drive of Governor Abiodun.
“I commissioned the 6km Siun-Owode road this morning. It is unprecedented, and with the rate of inflation these days, It is a huge challenge to commission or build one kilometre, talkless of six kilometres.
“The infrastructure work going on in this state is quite impressive. The quality of the road today is quite impressive, and the drainage is first-class. That road will last at least twenty years.
“In terms of investment, Ogun State will be recovering a major part of new investments—green field investments—in Nigeria today. Kudos to Governor Dapo Abiodun for the work he is doing,” he said.
While acknowledging that economic challenges exist globally, the chairman of the Governor’s Forum stated that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is leading the way by ensuring the delivery of grains to the country’s citizens to address the current hardships faced by Nigerians.
“Economic challenges are worldwide. It is not a Nigerian phenomenon alone. Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, and even the United States are facing the same thing. It is a global phenomenon.
“The president has set the pace, and as you noticed today, the federal government is delivering grain across all the states in Nigeria, and all the states are doing their best to supply palliatives,” he said.
He said that it was important to also focus on human capital development and maintain standards in hospitals and schools in the country.
He further commended President Tinubu for launching the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Fund to bridge the gap in the infrastructure deficit.
“But, while we are doing all those palliatives daily, we must put our eyes on the ball. We must make sure we focus on human capital development and maintain standards in our hospitals and schools.
“Fix school infrastructure, fix education infrastructure, and not divert all attention to palliatives while leaving the job undone.
“We have great challenges in infrastructure. That is why you see that the president has launched the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Fund, basically to mitigate this challenge. We cannot compete globally without having solid infrastructure in place,” he added.
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