Tinubu, Obasanjo, Akpabio Hail Abiodun as Ogun Unveils Gateway Airport, State Airline
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Senate President Godswill Akpabio on Saturday praised Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, for what they described as his bold transformation of Ogun State through major infrastructure projects, especially the newly inaugurated Gateway International Airport in Iperu-Ilishan.
Global Mirror News gathered that President Tinubu commissioned the Airport, the newly launched Gateway Airline, Road projects and Housing developments during his official visit to Ogun State.
Speaking at the inauguration, President Tinubu commended Governor Abiodun’s leadership, saying the Governor had justified the confidence reposed in him by both the Federal Government and the people of Ogun State.
The President described the Airport as an economic nerve centre that would boost development across the State and the South-West corridor.
“In less than seven years, Governor Dapo Abiodun has demonstrated commitment, vision and patriotism in driving development,” Tinubu said.
“I have no regrets supporting him. The increase in Federal Allocation to States is being effectively utilised in Ogun State, and the people can clearly see the results.”
Tinubu said the Federal Government’s reforms were aimed at improving the lives of Nigerians and restoring the Country’s image globally.
According to him, the Gateway Airport is directly linked to wider investments in gas, energy and commerce, while Abiodun’s other projects show a deliberate commitment to touching every sector of the State.
The President also praised the Ogun State Government’s Agricultural programmes and the rollout of 1,000 electric motorcycles, describing the initiative as a smart response to modern transportation challenges and rising fuel costs.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo described the occasion as historic and thanked Tinubu for attending.
Obasanjo, who commended Governor Abiodun for building the Airport, said the project would significantly reduce travel time for residents of Ogun State.
“I landed here from Abuja and got to my home in 45 minutes. If I had landed in Lagos, it would have taken much longer,” he said.
He added that the Airport is a landmark achievement and a major source of pride for Ogun State.
The former President also recalled being part of the movement that led to the creation of Ogun State 50 years ago, saying few people could have imagined the level of development currently taking place in the State.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio also praised both President Tinubu and Governor Abiodun.
Akpabio said Tinubu’s economic reforms had improved the financial position of states, while Abiodun had used the increased Federal Allocations prudently.
He described the Gateway Airport as a symbol of progress and a major achievement for the State.
Governor Dapo Abiodun, while addressing guests, described President Tinubu’s presence at the event as symbolic and encouraging.
He said the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda had restored confidence in Nigeria and positioned the Country once again as an attractive destination for investment.
Abiodun explained that his administration decided to aggressively tackle Ogun State’s infrastructure gap in order to maximise the State’s strategic location near Lagos.
According to him, Ogun State has become one of Nigeria’s fastest-growing economies because of deliberate policies focused on roads, housing, healthcare, power supply, agriculture and transportation.
The Governor said his administration had constructed or rehabilitated over 1,600 kilometres of roads across the State.
Among the major projects listed were the Epe-Ijebu Ode Expressway, Sagamu Interchange-Papalanto Road, Sango-Abeokuta Expressway, Sagamu-Iperu-Ode Remo-Sapade Expressway, Ilishan-Iperu Road and the airport access road linked to the Sagamu-Benin Expressway.
He noted that the Sagamu-Iperu corridor had been renamed Bola Ahmed Tinubu Expressway.
Gov. Abiodun further revealed that his Government had delivered more than 7,000 affordable homes, including the Muhammadu Buhari Estate with 100 housing units.
He said the housing programme had created jobs and helped many residents become homeowners.
On Healthcare, the Governor disclosed that the state had completed 140 Primary Healthcare Centres and a new 200-bed Gateway Medical Centre of Excellence.
He said the hospital would be affiliated with the Abuja Medical Centre of Excellence and would reduce the need for Nigerians to travel abroad for medical treatment.
Abiodun also highlighted investments in power generation, including the first phase of the 34.1-megawatt Onijanganjangan Independent Power Project, which he said would improve electricity supply for industries and businesses.
In Agriculture, the Governor said the State had introduced mechanised farming through the supply of modern tractors and other equipment to boost food production.
He added that the Government had strengthened security by providing 100 operational vehicles and other support to law enforcement Agencies.
The Governor said the introduction of electric mobility solutions in the State reflected Ogun’s commitment to environmental sustainability and modern transportation.
Dignitaries at the event included Senate President Godswill Akpabio; Governors Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State, Douye Diri of Bayelsa State, Agbu Kefas of Taraba State, Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State, Mohammed Umar Bago of Niger State and Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State.
Also present were the Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Bayo Lawal, and his Lagos State counterpart, Dr Obafemi Hamzat.
Former Ogun State Governors, Senator Gbenga Daniel and Senator Ibikunle Amosun, attended the event, alongside elder statesman and former Governor, Chief Olusegun Osoba.
Other dignitaries included the Chairman of ANN Plc, Dr Olatokunbo Awolowo Dosumu; former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Ambassador Femi Pedro; Minister of Art, Culture and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa; Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Olayemi Cardoso; and Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo.
Business leaders at the event included Chairman of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote; Chairman of BUA Group, Abdul Samad Rabiu; and billionaire businessman, Femi Otedola.
Security chiefs and top Government Officials present included the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun; Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 2, AIG Olatoye Durosinmi; Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adeniyi; and the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Mele Kyari.
The Governor, while reeling out his administration’s achievements, stressed that the airport project was only one part of a broader development agenda.
“Beyond aviation, we have in the last seven years made remarkable progress with more than 1,600 kilometres of constructed or rehabilitated roads,” Abiodun said.
He listed the Epe-Ijebu Ode Expressway, Sagamu Interchange-Papalanto Expressway, Sango-Abeokuta Expressway, Sagamu-Iperu-Ode Remo-Sapade Expressway, now renamed Bola Ahmed Tinubu Expressway, the Ilishan-Iperu Road and the Airport Road linking the Sagamu-Benin Expressway as some of the signature projects executed by his administration.
“In housing, the Muhammadu Buhari Estate with 100 units of semi-detached and fully detached houses, as well as more than 7,000 affordable homes delivered by this administration, are creating jobs and turning our citizens from tenants into landlords,” he said.
The Governor said Ogun State had also completed and equipped 140 primary healthcare centres across the State.
He disclosed that the newly completed 200-bed Gateway Medical Centre of Excellence would be affiliated with the Abuja Medical Centre of Excellence.
According to him, the hospital would provide advanced medical services, reduce the need for medical tourism abroad and position Ogun State as a medical destination.
Abiodun said his administration had also invested heavily in electricity generation through the first phase of the 34.1 megawatt Onijanganjangan Independent Power Project.
He said the project would strengthen energy supply for industries and support economic expansion in the state.
The Governor added that the State Government had deepened mechanised farming through the provision of modern tractors and farming equipment to improve food security.
On security, he said the State had supplied 100 patrol vehicles and other logistics support to law enforcement Agencies.
He further explained that the introduction of electric mobility solutions was designed to cushion the effect of rising fuel prices while promoting clean energy and sustainable transportation.
Global Mirror News gathered that the inauguration of the Gateway International Airport and the unveiling of Gateway Airline are expected to boost business activities, ease transportation and further strengthen Ogun State’s position as one of Nigeria’s leading industrial and commercial hubs.
