Tinubu Inaugurates Gateway International Airport and Multiple Infrastructure Developments in Ogun State

President Bola Tinubu reassured Nigerians of his administration's commitment to national progress on Saturday, stating that the country is firmly on course to achieving greatness.

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This assurance was given during the commissioning of the Gateway International Airport in Iperu-Remo, located in Ikenne Local Government Area of Ogun State, where Tinubu noted that ongoing reforms and strategic infrastructure investments are yielding tangible results across critical sectors of the economy.

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Among the projects inaugurated were two newly acquired aircraft under Gateway Air, 1,000 electric motorcycles, 80 security vehicles, and a fleet of agricultural tractors.

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Tinubu also inspected and commissioned the Nigeria Customs Service Village, the Forward Operating Base, the Gateway Aviation Village, and the reconstructed Old Ibadan Road, now renamed the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Expressway.

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While acknowledging that recent macroeconomic policies may pose short-term challenges, the President maintained that such measures are essential for long-term stability and prosperity.

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The administration's focus on economic restructuring, security, and development initiatives is part of a broader vision to reposition Nigeria as a resilient and competitive player on the global stage, according to Tinubu.

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He expressed optimism about the nation's future, assuring citizens that ongoing efforts would consolidate current gains and secure prosperity for future generations.

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Tinubu stated, "I appreciate the opportunity to join you today in celebrating the remarkable vision of this governor and his predecessors, and we have commissioned a major economic hub in this corridor."

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"Over the past seven years, you have demonstrated commitment, vision, and patriotism in advancing Nigeria's growth, and we celebrate your contributions to national development," he added.

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Tinubu also said, "Our investments are centered on our people, and the infrastructure we see today reflects our confidence in the future of our country, and we believe that today's foundation will secure tomorrow's prosperity."

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He noted that macroeconomic reforms may be challenging, but they are already delivering progress, and the airport project is being integrated with investments in gas, energy, and other sectors designed to impact every level of society.

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Tinubu expressed pleasure with the focus on mobility, security, and agriculture, and stated that strengthening security infrastructure reinforces the resolve to protect lives and property, and that Nigeria will overcome violence and terrorism.

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The President concluded, "Nigeria is determined to be great, and we are firmly on the path to achieving that greatness once again."

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Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, described the President's presence as historic and symbolic, reflecting strong federal support for subnational development, and stated that the President's presence reflects commitment to national development and belief in subnational governments as engines of growth.

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Abiodun commended the Federal Government's bold reforms, including the unification of the foreign exchange system and removal of fuel subsidies, noting that such measures are restoring investor confidence and repositioning Nigeria globally.

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The governor revealed that internally generated revenue in Ogun State has grown from ₦40 billion to over ₦250 billion annually, while the state's GDP increased from ₦4 trillion to ₦17 trillion within seven years.

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Abiodun described the Gateway International Airport as a landmark project featuring a nearly four-kilometre runway, modern control tower, advanced aviation systems, and cargo facilities, forming the nucleus of the state's emerging aerotropolis.

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The governor also disclosed that the state has constructed or rehabilitated over 1,600 kilometres of roads, delivered more than 7,000 affordable homes, and completed over 140 primary healthcare centres, alongside a 200-bed medical facility.

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Senate President Godswill Akpabio commended the synergy between the executive and legislature, stressing that such collaboration is key to the achievements recorded, and stated that progress like this requires unity, not conflict.

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Akpabio reaffirmed the commitment of the National Assembly to sustaining its partnership with the executive in advancing national development, and noted that the President's reforms have strengthened revenue distribution to subnational governments.

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The event drew top government officials, lawmakers, and stakeholders, marking another milestone in Ogun State's infrastructure drive and the Federal Government's broader economic reform agenda.

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Former President Olusegun Obasanjo thanked Tinubu for attending the event, and commended Governor Abiodun for building the airport, describing it as a landmark project, and noted that he landed at the airport from Abuja in 45 minutes, which is 25 minutes shorter than if he had landed in Lagos.

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Obasanjo expressed pride in being a witness to the historic occasion, and stated that nobody could have imagined Ogun State would be what it is today, considering the developmental projects undertaken by the governor.

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Aremo Olusegun Osoba commended the President's efforts at transforming the country economically through his policies, which have begun to yield desired results, and noted that the development of the coastal road reflects the President's commitment to infrastructure.

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Osoba stated that the President's leadership has strengthened the economy and increased internally generated revenue to about ₦25 billion monthly, with the budget now in the trillions, and that industrial development is rapidly transforming the region.

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Other dignitaries at the programme included the governors of Zamfara, Bayelsa, Taraba, Ekiti, Ondo, Niger, and Lagos states, as well as the Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Bayo Lawal, and his Lagos counterpart, Dr Obafemi Hamzat.

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Also in attendance were Senator Gbenga Daniel, former governor of Ogun State; Senator Ibikunle Amosun, another former governor of the state; Olusegun Osoba; and the Chairman of ANN Plc, Dr Olatokunbo Awolowo-Dosumu, among others.