Cargo operations at the Gateway International Airport are expected to commence within the next 30 to 45 days, with the first cargo aircraft from Europe billed to touch down at the facility, Governor Dapo Abiodun has disclosed.
The governor made this known during an on-the-spot assessment of ongoing work at the Industrial Platform, Remo Free Trade Zone, located along the Sagamu–Ijebu-Ode Expressway.
He expressed confidence that the airport is ready to begin a new phase of economic activity that would strengthen Ogun State’s position as a major processing and export hub.
According to him, the access road linking the Sagamu–Benin Expressway directly to the airport would soon be opened for public use.
He described the road as a strategic infrastructure designed in line with international standards.
“This road tees off from the Sagamu–Benin Expressway and leads straight to the airport,” he said. “In line with global best practices, an airport road cannot be winding or meandering. It must run straight from the main highway to the airport. This road connects directly to the airport and also passes through the processing zone, enabling people to see the level of activity within the zone.”
The Industrial Platform, Remo, serves as the Special Agro-Processing Zone situated between Iperu and Ilishan. The initiative, conceived toward the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, is structured to promote agro-industrial development by converting raw agricultural produce into finished goods for both local consumption and export.
Abiodun explained that the concept was introduced to his administration by the African Development Bank and later refined into what has become the Industrial Platform. He added that several companies have already begun constructing their processing facilities, while the first set of companies may be commissioned within the next few months.
During the inspection tour, the governor visited a 6,800-square-metre warehouse under construction and commended the pace of development within the zone.
He noted that the state deliberately created an integrated ecosystem where agricultural production and processing operate within the same environment to improve efficiency and enhance value addition.
The free trade zone, he said, would operate with a dedicated power supply, structured waste management systems, an independent administrative framework and a strong security architecture to guarantee seamless operations for investors.
Abiodun further revealed that the zone is projected to host what he described as the world’s largest cotton garment processing factory, a development he said would generate massive employment and stimulate industrial growth across the state.
“What is a Special Agro-Processing Zone? It is a designated expanse of land dedicated to converting agro-raw materials into finished goods. You can liken it to a shopping mall of processing companies,” the governor stated.
He disclosed that Ogun State partnered with a firm that has successfully implemented similar projects in the Benin Republic, Lomé and Côte d’Ivoire.
He described the collaboration, known as the Ogun State–Arise relationship, as the driving force behind the Industrial Platform.
The governor also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his support through the Federal Ministries of Agriculture and Industry, noting that large-scale economic projects thrive on sound macroeconomic policies.
He stressed that when properly implemented, such policies create jobs, attract investments, strengthen industrial capacity and ultimately improve the living standards of citizens across the state.
