First Air Plane Lands At Ogun New Airport
History was made on Thursday as the first air plane touching-down and taking-off at the Gateway International Agro-Cargo Airport in Iperu-Ilishan in Ogun State.
The first private aircraft landed at 2.15 pm to the excitement of the Ogun people who had earlier trooped to the airport to witness the occasion.
The peak of the day was the landing of Valuejet airline at 3:30 pm thus becoming the first commercial flight to land at the cargo airport.
Ogun State Dignitaries including Governor Dapo Abiodun, Former Governors Segun Osoba, Gbenga Daniel, Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole and the Traditional class including the Akarigbo of Remoland, Awujale of Ijebu, represented by the Orimolusi of Ijebu Igbo were all present to witness the achievement.
According to the State Government, the cargo airport is a mega airport project conceptualized by Governor Dapo Abiodun to create needed infrastructure to boost the exportation of agricultural and non-agricultural goods and reinvigorate further social, economic activities, which will subsequently increase revenue generation drive of the State.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and his wife, Dolapo, were also received at the airport in an aircraft.
Aviation Minister Senator Hadi Sirika was also present for the test flight.
Speaking at the occasion, Commissioner for transport, Mr Akin Adesanya, described the event as historic.
Adesanya said the opening of the cargo airport, which has the longest runway in the country, was made possible following the pledge made by the Dapo Abiodun government to deliver it to the people of the state before his first tenure.
In his comments, the Managing Director of Valuejet Airline, which operated the maiden flight, Mr Kunle Soname, described the opportunity as invaluable to the airline.
Former Governor Gbenga Daniel went down memory lane to attribute reasons for mooting the idea of the cargo airport and the resolve to make the airport an alternative to Lagos airport and further make business and transportation of goods seamless to farmers in the state.
