By: Elijah Udofia 

Scoring first by Ogun State is nothing new, as the foundation for achieving greatness has been laid by its founding fathers. From the time of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, to the present occupier of the seat of power at Oke-Mosan, Prince Dapo Abiodun, the state has had leaders who dreamt and worked towards accomplishing their goals.

Like the American former First Lady and activist, Eleanor Roosevelt, once said, "the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." Governor Dapo Abiodun, upon assuming the mantle of leadership of the state, had a dream that his predecessors would not dare to dream. It was to make the state an aviation hub in the country, and this he pursued with passion and vigour.

But for those who do not dream and do not believe in the efficacy of dreams, Abiodun's dream of an airport for the state was a smoke screen that would fizzle away in no time. For them, it was impossible to build something that, in most cases, takes a decade to build in four years or eight years at most. To them, it was like starting something one would not finish.

And so, when the first block of the airport was laid, they saw it as a joke. When eventually the first flights landed at the airport, they saw it as a bigger joke taken too far, claiming that the plane landed on an incomplete airport.

But bit by bit, the silent builder kept building without paying attention to distractions. While the busybodies were busy upping their games of discrediting his administration, Governor Abiodun was busy putting up the superstructures and ensuring that what comes out of it is worth the trouble.

When Israel Ayivor said, "whatever you begin will see the light of day provided you can dream big and be a ruler over your dreams with persistent actions," he must have had Dapo Abiodun in mind, as the governor not only dreamed of a world-class airport but worked persistently to ensure that the airport came to fruition.

And what other way to put a seal on this wonderful dream than the recent move by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), granting approval to the Gateway International Agro-Cargo Airport, Ogun State, to begin commercial flight operations?

The approval, given in line with Part 12.15.17 of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig.CARs), granted an Interim Aerodrome Operational Permit to operate scheduled commercial air transport flights at the airport.

As a result of this, a major international aviation company is expected to operate two weekly cargo flights from London to the airport. The airport will also serve as the designated alternate to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

Passenger flights are to be launched, starting with direct routes to Abuja and Port Harcourt. This is expected to boost trade, investment, and tourism in the Gateway State.

Last December, regulatory agencies in the aviation industry, including the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), and Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), visited the airport, hailing the quality of facilities put in place, as well as their level of completion.

They adjudged the airport as world-standard and a source of pride for Ogun State, saying that the infrastructure at the airport, which includes the Control Tower, Weather Monitoring Areas, the runway (the longest in the country), Fire Service Stations, and the Apron, could rival any of their types around the world, adding that they remain one of the best in West Africa.

At the time, the Director of Aerodrome and Airspace Standards of NCAA, represented by Ango Mohammed, noted a significant improvement in the state of facilities at the airport since his last visit, "which is now at the level of any other tower in every standard airport around the globe."

What more, for prominent citizens like the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi; Minister of Finance and the Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Wale Edun to Chief of Staff to the President, Rt. Hon. Deni Gbajabiamila; Speaker, House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abass; Senate President, Senator Goodwill Akpabio; Vice President, Kashim Shettima and the Numero uno of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and many more who had at one time or the other made use of the airport, all attested to it world class status.

Located on the Iperu-Ilisan road in Ikenne Local Government Area of the state, the airport sits on 5,000 hectares of land and can be described as ‘the flagship’ of the Prince Dapo Abiodun-led administration. It is meant to create the much-needed infrastructure capable of boosting the export of agricultural and non-agricultural products, which in turn would reinvigorate social and economic activities and increase the internally generated revenue of the state.

For Governor Abiodun, he has kept faith with his promise to deliver the airport. He set clear objectives, developed strategies, and worked diligently towards achieving the objective.

He did this by "thinking big, dreaming big, believing big, and the result, as all can see, is the world-class airport said to be the best in the country."

Mr. Udofia write from Laderin, Abeokuta.