Tinubu commissions Ogun airport

President Bola Tinubu on Saturday inaugurated the Gateway Cargo International Airport in Iperu, Ogun State, describing his administration’s infrastructure drive and economic reforms as deliberate investments in the well-being of Nigerians and the foundation of long-term national prosperity.

The commissioning, which also featured the launch of two Gateway Airline aircraft, formed the centrepiece of a high-profile visit to Ogun State by the President, who was accompanied by senior federal officials, state governors, and traditional rulers.

Speaking at the event, Tinubu said government spending on infrastructure reflects a deeper commitment to the country’s future. “Our investment is about our people. The infrastructure underscores our faith in our country — the belief that today’s foundation is for tomorrow’s prosperity,” he said.

The President noted that the airport runs on an independent power source, in line with federal efforts to strengthen energy infrastructure supporting critical national assets. He also unveiled 1,000 electric bikes, security vehicles, and agricultural tractors, framing them as components of a broader strategy to improve mobility, bolster security, and raise food production.

Tinubu praised Nigerians for their continued support for the All Progressives Congress, saying ongoing reforms had expanded the financial resources available to state governments. He singled out Governor Dapo Abiodun for aligning Ogun State’s development agenda with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope programme.

The President also inaugurated a Nigeria Customs Service hub comprising barracks, a training college, a warehouse, and a hospital, commending Comptroller-General Bashir Adewale Adeniyi for reforms aimed at improving the ease of doing business and staff welfare.

Governor Abiodun described the presidential visit as historic, crediting Tinubu’s economic policies — including foreign exchange unification, fuel subsidy removal, and public finance reforms — with restoring investor confidence and improving Nigeria’s fiscal position. He also cited federal initiatives such as the compressed natural gas programme, student loan scheme, rail modernisation projects, and major highway constructions as evidence of a deliberate economic reset.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who addressed the gathering, praised Tinubu’s democratic credentials and called for the decentralisation of the Transmission Company of Nigeria to improve efficiency in the power sector. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo also offered commendations, reflecting on the state’s development since its creation 50 years ago.

Among dignitaries at the event were Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy Wale Edun, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Festus Keyamo, Minister of Communications and Digital Economy Bosun Tijani, and Central Bank Governor Olayemi Cardoso. Governors from Borno, Niger, Taraba, Lagos, Ondo, Oyo, Bayelsa, and Ekiti states also attended.