Ojuawo, a House of Representatives member-elect, said the
runway of the airport which began during the tenure of former governor, Dr
Kayode Fayemi, had been tested with a test flight, adding that other planes had
successfully landed and taken off at the facility.
During a chat with journalists at the airport, Ojuawo said
the state governor, Biodun Oyebanji, had given the go-ahead to deliver the
project by October 2023 for passenger operation.
He added, “As it is, it can take daylight, good weather
flights. We are already talking to airlines in the country and everything will
soon be finalised. This project has come to stay and we will soon see the
results of the vision of the former governor, Dr Fayemi.”
The lawmaker-elect, who dismissed insinuations in some
quarters that the airport was unnecessary, a waste of resources and
consequently abandoned by Oyebanji, said the airport would enhance the
socio-economic development of the state.
Ojuawo said, “The airport will bring about transformation.
As a cargo airport, it will help this state and its neighbours being agrarian
areas. It will open the state to the international market. It will as well
create employment opportunities and as well attract numerous developments.
“Contractors are working day and night to deliver the first
phase of the project to the admiration of the former governor, Fayemi, who is
doing everything possible, even outside the office in seeing to the success of
the laudable project. Major equipment and facilities needed in the airport are
being put in place in line with international standards.
“Anyone that is not here cannot believe the level of work
the airport has reached. As you can see, the passengers’ terminal building is
nearing perfection; the control tower will be delivered soon, meteorological
garden completed, among other progress made on the airport project.
“We heard a lot of things, but the truth of the matter is,
anywhere in the world, airport construction is not like a residential building
that you can finish in one breath, the work here will continue. Don’t forget
recently, President Muhammadu Buhari commissioned a project at the airport in
Lagos, you can remember when that airport was opened.”