…says project capable of moving Nigeria forward
A renowned investment banker and owner of five airports including Gatwick, Edinburg as well as Nuovo Transporto Viagiatori, Adebayo Ogunlesi has commended Governor Dapo Abiodun-led administration for building a world-class airport in the state.
Ogunlesi, who is also the Chairman and Managing Partner of Global Infrastructure Partners, gave this commendation in an interview with newsmen shortly after he was conducted around the Gateway International Agro Cargo Airport, located along Iperu-Ilisan road in Ikenne Local Government Area by Governor Abiodun, on Friday.
He described it as the fastest airport to be constructed anywhere in the world.
“The place is fantastic, I was telling the governor that I have never heard of any airport constructed so fast. In fact when he told me, I had to bow because I have never heard of an airport built in two years and the concept, the idea, the location and the strategic nature of this airport is fantastic.
“These are exactly the things we need in Nigeria, this is what will take Nigeria forward to the next century and beyond.
“I am ecstatic because as the governor mentioned, the government role is to facilitate the development of the airport, the government has no interest in running airports. There are people whose businesses are to run airports, so we get it built, we get it financed”, he pointed out.
According to the investor, the airport built to international standard, is capable of taking any size of plane, noting that “the governor said once we get it built, we will find somebody who is in the business of running airport to come and manage it professionally and by the way, they will pay taxes to the government, so that will be good, that is the way things should be done.
“Think about the strategic location, right in the middle of Ogun State with access to two critical super highways, think about all of the industrial facilities that can be built around this airport, all the jobs that will be created, I think Mr Governor is visionary”, Ogunlesi added.
