By Dickson Omobola

Ogun State government, Monday, disclosed that the ongoing Gateway International Agro-Cargo Airport at Iperu-Ilishan Road in Ikenne Local Government Area has been approved to operate chartered flights.

The state’s Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Engr Ade Akinsanya, also said the airport, which has the longest runway in Nigeria, was 95 per cent complete.

Akinsanya told newsmen in Ogun during a tour to the facility, adding that the basic elements to make it a functional airport were in place.

He said: “The basic elements to make it a functional airport are in place. The runway is the longest in Nigeria right now. The main runway is 3.4, then with the safety zone, an additional 600, total is 4 kilometres. It is also 60 metres wide. In terms of airport, it is designated as 4E.

“The only one above that is 4F. In terms of length, we are okay. The runway is completed and the feedback is that it is the best runway in Nigeria right now. Overall, with where we are today, I am pretty certain we are ready to go. For commercial operations, once we get the approval from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, for the commercial, we go. Right now, we have approval for chartered flight.”

On the approval rate, he said: “I would say 95 per cent. It is more or less done. The runway has been done for a long time. The fire station is done. You see the two fire tenders outside. Right now, we are in CAD-6. With that additional fire tender, we are moving to CAD-7. So, the only thing remaining is the permanent terminal building, which is about 90 per cent complete. Overall, everything is set. We are working with our partners, NCAA, NAMA, NIMET, to make everything functional.”