The Ogun State Government has said that the agro international airport located at Iperu-Ilishan Road in Illenne Local Government Area of the state was 90 per cent completed.
In a statement on Tuesday, by the National Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Customs Service, Abdullahi Maiwada, the state Commissioner of Works, Ade Akinsanya, said this when the acting Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, inspected some projects in the state.
Among the projects inspected by the Customs CG included, the proposed 100 hectares Customs Training College, Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘A’ headquarters, government warehouse, and the agro international airport.
Speaking during the visit, Akinsanya highlighted the accessibility of the area and the expected period for completion of agro international cargo airport.
He said, “The target for us to get this project ready is the end of the year. The runway is completely done, the control tower is about 90 per cent, and all the equipment needed is completely procured. In terms of capacity, there is enough room to grow, right now we have a warehouse under construction with a terminal building where you will be able to help us man. So things are taking shape and the governor is pushing us to get everything done by the end of the year.”
Earlier, the Customs boss had expressed delight at the progress made so far and promised to be a responsible neighbour to the state government.
In his words, “We are happy that we are going to be your neighbours, and I can commit to you that we are going to be very responsible neighbours; we are going to operate in a way that will make Ogun State proud”.
Adeniyi urged the contractors to work within the timeframe of the contract period.
He added that the project was going to be very strategic to the future of customs operations in Nigeria.
According to him, “As we try to get our process right, as we try to bring innovation, we now need outstanding infrastructural support to drive these operations.”
The CGC said the service is going to be very strict with the contract period.
“We are going to be very strict with the contract period. We cannot afford the airport to take off too far away before we start here. So we want some kind of development to be happening side by side. I believe that our presence here will add value to the airport just like we believe that the airport will also add value to us”.
Adeniyi, who was in the company of the commissioner, project manager, as well as his management team, undertook a tour of the proposed customs project site and the agro cargo international airport under construction.
