Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde, on Wednesday, performed the ground-breaking ceremony for the upgrading of the Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport, Alakia, Ibadan to international standard, 40 years after.
The governor assured that the N41 billion project awarded to Messrs Craneburg, with a timeline of 12 months, when completed will connect to the global market, position Ibadan as a true regional business hub and improve the ease of doing business in the state.
Governor Makinde said upgrade of the facility, after 40 years of existence, will bring in investments in agribusiness, manufacturing and technology sectors, as he further promised to ensure that the project is delivered as scheduled.
Makinde said, “Let me specially thank members of the committee, who worked on the project in the last six weeks to make it possible for the official groundbreaking ceremony to take place today (Wednesday).
“Some people do not think that upgrading this airport at this time is a good idea, but the decision to upgrade this airport to international standard is based on data and logic. In the next twelve months, this project will be delivered. I will push the envelope.
“This airport will connect Oyo State to a global market. It will improve ease of doing business, bringing investments into agribusiness, manufacturing and technology sectors and positioning Ibadan as a true regional business hub.”
“I want to congratulate Craneburg for winning this bid. They gave us the lowest bid and they are working on the Circular Road, so we know what they are capable of doing. We gave them an impossible deadline on the Alao-Akala Memorial Highway and it was delivered.”
Makinde said the government had paid due compensation to landowners in Ajia, who lost their property to the new Air Force Base being constructed in the area.
He also used the occasion to reassure residents of the state that, due to hardship facing the people, the Presumptive Tax Law recently passed by the Oyo State House of Assembly will not be implemented for now, as his government will only fight poverty and not poor people.
His word: “We took an important decision yesterday (Wednesday) at the State Executive Council meeting. We know times are hard and Nigerians are hungry and angry. But I hope this will not boil over.
“Gladly, in Oyo State, we have control over what we can do here. I can see that the House has passed the Presumptive Tax Bill. Yes, it came from us, because if we need to expand the economy, we need to generate money. I will sign it into law, but we will not implement it for now”, he added.
While stressing that his government would not do anything to deliberately hurt the people,
He further stressed that his administration would only promote policies that would leave money in the pockets of the people of Oyo State, so that they could spend the same on areas important to them.
The governor while commending the Deputy Governor, Barr. Lawal for acting as governor when he was away on vacation, also lauded residents of the state for supporting him.
Governor Makinde, who also seized the occasion to call on residents of Edo State to support the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Asue Ighodalo, in Saturday’s governorship election in the state, said the candidate would deliver the goods to residents of the state.
He equally noted that he and the Osun State governor are solidly behind the Amb. Umar Ilya Damagum-led National Working Committee of the PDP, saying: “I am also glad that our Acting National Chairman and members of his National Working Committee are here. I was reading yesterday that there was another meeting in Bauchi. Let me say clearly that we are 100 per cent in support of the Damagun-led NWC. Whatever decision you take, we will support you to reposition our party.
“Let me also say this; even if we have issues within ourselves, we have an important election on Saturday. So, we should just rally round and deliver our candidate to give real hope to our people.”
Earlier, Osun State Governor, Senator Nurudeen Ademola Adeleke congratulated Governor Makinde on the groundbreaking ceremony for the upgrade of the airport, describing him as a man of vision and a passionate agent of development in Oyo State.
He also saluted Makinde’s drive of leaving behind a good legacy of impactful innovation and infrastructure revolution to the people of his state.
Earlier, the Commander National Air Defence Corps, Nigerian Air Force, Ikeja, Lagos, Air Commodore Victor Ajiboye, who doubled as a member of the Ibadan Airport Upgrade Committee, assured that upon the completion of the project, Ibadan would be better positioned as an economic hub in the South-West Nigeria.
The representative of the Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola family, Chief Akinwunmi Akintola, expressed their appreciation to the Governor Makinde for honouring the family with the legacy project.
In their respective goodwill remarks, the Acting Chairman, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mr. Francis Balogun and the representative of Airport Community Development Association, Dr. Ogunsesan appreciated the governor for the initiative and his vision of upgrading the airport to international standard after 40 years of existence.
Chairman of the airport upgrade committee, Mr. Bimbo Adekanmbi, equally said the project would promote economic growth and enhanced passenger experience.
The event had in attendance the Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Barr. Bayo Lawal, Acting National Chairman of the PDP, Amb. Damagum, PDP Deputy National Chairman (South) and a former deputy governor of Oyo State, Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja.
Also present were chairman, Senate Committee on Aviation, Senator Abdulfatai Buhari, former deputy governors, Engr. Hamid Gbadamosi and Alhaji Hazeem Gbolarumi.
Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin and members of the House, Chief Judge of Oyo State, Justice Iyabo Yerima and other top judicial officers, Secretary to the State Government, Professor Olanike Adeyemo, Chief of Staff, Hon. Segun Ogunwuyi; Head of Service, Mrs Olubunmi Oni (mni) and other government functionaries.
Others were chairman and co-chairman, Oyo State Elders’ Council, Dr. Saka Balogun and Elder Wole Oyelese, Chief Bode Amao, Mrs. Elizabeth Akinyele, Architect Samson and Mrs Victoria Bamidele of Bovas Group, Chief Niyi Akintola (SAN); Alhaji Ahmed Raji (SAN); Chief Olusola Ayandele, Service Commanders, traditional rulers and religious leaders, among other dignitaries.
