Bad Roads-New Airport Will Not Work, Ogun Residents Tell Abiodun
September 01, 2022
. Control Tower, Runaway Of Airport Nears Completion
. Fix Ogun Roads To Boost IGR, Says Residents
Amid optimism that the new cargo airport will soon be completed, residents of the state have called on the Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun to fix the decaying road infrastructure for the multi-billion naira project to yield results.
Ogun State on its official social media page declared that new airport is currently attracting the attention of major stakeholders.
It stated that: “International aviation agencies including the International Air Transport Association, (IATA), the association of airline traders around the world as well as local regulatory agencies such as NCAA, NAMA, NIMET and FAAN, have all indicated interest in the new Agro Cargo Airport being put in place by Ogun State government due to its strategic location.
“Likewise the two major critical aviation security and safety formations, the Nigerian Air Force and Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS).
“The Control Tower, Runaway and Fire station within the airport, which is the first of its kind in Africa, are near completion,”
The concerned residents in their response applauded the initiative, but expressed concern that the poor roads across the state might jeopardies the project, as transportation of goods to the airport will meet difficulties.
A resident, Mary Popoola said: “We are not against it, all we are asking for is give the Common people good roads and good transport system, because that project is for the rich,”
Deji Sontowa said: “Building a cargo Airport no doubt is great idea. But I believe there will be need for transportation of goods in and out of the airport, therefore good road will be needed in and out of Ogun state to make the airport functional. Power, housing, police stations, hospitals, supermarts, and the rest will all be needed to make the cargo airport work.
“You cannot build a cargo airport in isolation you need a holistic view to make this project successful. If all I have said and more are not done, this will also become an abandoned project.
“Let me say this, more Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) for Ogun State is not even in the cargo airport. Never, the greatest investment that Ogun needs to make better IGR is infrastructural development, especially in this areas that share close proximity with Lagos state, such as Akute, Sango, Ijoko, Ifo, Ota and the rest, these places can really explode government IGR if the infrastructures are fixed, there will be massive in flux of businesses, people, industries, private establishment which bring in regular income tax for the government.
“Only Ogun state shares bother with Lagos State, but the gateways in and out between Lagos and Ogun state is a sorry state.
“Ogun state is blessed potentially but needs to utilize these potentials by investing in the right project that will help Ogun state become a state everybody will love to rush to stay, for now people fear coming into the state because of bad roads. Good roads are paramount to creating wealth for the state,” he stated.
Asipa Adeyinka said: “Misplace priority! Roads in Ogun are in shambles and billions is wasted on white elephant project”.
