Nigeria’s Ogun State to build country’s first agro-allied airport
By Onome Amuge
- Backs former President Obasanjo’s agro-commodities goal
The Ogun State government, in partnership with Olusegun Obasanjo, erstwhile Nigerian president, is moving towards establishing an agro-commodities airport in the South-west state of Nigeria.
Dapo Abiodun, Ogun State governor, who disclosed this in a recent statement, noted that the project is duly supported by the former president and founder, Obasanjo Farms Nigeria Limited, one of the largest farms in the region.
He explained that the global impact of the covid-19 pandemic has made it critical to ensure adequate protection of the food systems, necessitating an influx of urgent and indigenous solutions to fast-track the sector’s recovery.
Abiodun noted that the airport, the first of its kind in Nigeria, will facilitate the transportation of agro-allied commodities within and outside the country.
“We are looking at having an agro-allied based airport from which agro produces like what we have here can be air freighted outside the country and still get to other destinations fresh. We are looking at this kind of thing that will complement all that we are doing,” he added.
He maintained that the state government believes the proposed partnership with Obasanjo is a laudable one and the government will continue to advocate for it as the state aims towards becoming the food basket of the nation.
The governor also stated that agriculture is a way out of poverty and unemployment and an earning power to the ‘gateway state’.
“We believe that we can actually grow what we eat and we want to commend former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, for continuously and tirelessly walking the talk,” he said.
Abiodun expressed optimism in the ability of the state to become a special agro-processing zone, adding that no fewer than 5,000 youths in the state will receive mentoring, support, and linkage to profitable agro-investment firms, as a prelude to setting them up in their respective businesses this year.