From left: Kayode Akinmade, Special Adviser, Information and Strategy, to Ogun State Governor; Commissioner for Transportation, Engr. Olugbenga Dairo; Commissioner for Works and infrastructure, Ade Akinsanya and Capt. Dapo Olumide, Consultant on airport management for Gateway International Agro-Cargo Airport during a briefing on developments at the airport on Monday
By Sade Williams
The Gateway International Agro-Cargo Airport, located along the Ilisan-Iperu axis of Ogun State, has secured approval to conduct chartered/non-scheduled operations.
This was disclosed by the Commissioner for Works and infrastructure, Ade Akinsanya while conducting journalists round the facility on Monday.
According to him, the airport is 95 percent completed but awaits Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) approval for scheduled operations.
“We have only gotten approval for charter flights, the basic equipment are in place, the runway is 4kl long, story n fact the feedback we are getting is that the runway is the best in Nigeria, the Control Tower is functional, the fire and administrative stations are in place, the main terminal building will be completed by January 2025. I am sure we are ready to go once we get approval for commercial flights but it is 95 percent completed. There are about three phases we have to cover before the final approval, we have done the first and second phases, the next visit by the NCAA will be to certify for commercial flights. The NCAA, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency and the Nigeria Meteorological Agency have been very cooperative.”, he said.
Explaining the technicality around obtaining the airport licence and why it has taken government longer period to complete it, a consultant to the State Government on airport management, Capt. Dapo Olumide explained that the State government is obtaining an Operating permit in line with Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations 2023 as against Aerodrome permit.
He said the processes that go into obtaining an Operating permit is ‘a more stringent’ one than Aerodrome permit.
“NCARs 2023 has changed some things, we are obtaining Operating permit and not Aerodrome permit, our airport is the first airport to obtain Operating permit, to lead in the new regulations, therefore, we are together with the NCAA in a learning curve in the new regulations .B777,: A380 aircraft can land here. This is a Solar,-poweerd airport with Doppler Very high frequency omnidirectional range (VOR) and Arterial Navigation and this is the best airport for non-perishable produce.
Olumide disclosed further that ‘the airport is also an aerotropolis that cannot be completed in a day. This is also an ideal location for hajj operations No airport in the world is static, there’s always one construction or the other. We are also planning for the future, we have the latest technology.
Earlier, Commiserate for Transportation, Engr. Olugbenga Dairo, said the project was conceived in 2019 even before the Ministry of Transportation was established.
“The plan is to capitalize on the strategic position of the State and build an Agro-Cargo airport , it is a strategic infrastructure designed to develop and promote development in and around the state, we are confident that investments in this airports will yield desired fruits”, he said.
