Cargo operations are set to commence at the Gateway International Airport within the next 30 to 45 days, with the first cargo aircraft from Europe expected to land at the facility.

Governor Dapo Abiodun disclosed this during an on-the-spot assessment of work at the Industrial Platform, Remo Free Trade Zone, located along the Sagamu–Ijebu-Ode Expressway on Thursday.

The Industrial Platform, Remo, is a Special Agro-Processing Zone situated between Iperu and Ilishan. Conceived toward the tail end of the COVID-19 pandemic, the initiative is designed to drive agro-industrial development and position Ogun State as a major processing and export hub.

Abiodun revealed that the access road linking the Sagamu–Benin Expressway directly to the airport would soon be opened to the public, describing it as a critical piece of infrastructure aligned with global best practices.
“This road tees off from the Sagamu–Benin Expressway and leads straight to the airport,” the governor said. “In line with global best practices, an airport road cannot be winding or meandering; it must run straight from the main highway to the airport. This road connects directly to the airport and also passes through the processing zone, enabling people to see the level of activity within the zone.”

He explained that the concept of the project was originally introduced to his administration by the African Development Bank and was subsequently refined into what is now known as the Industrial Platform.

The governor expressed optimism that the first processing companies in the zone would be commissioned within the next few months, noting that several firms have already commenced construction of their facilities.

During the inspection, he toured a 6,800-square-metre warehouse currently under construction and commended the pace of development within the zone.
According to Abiodun, the administration deliberately created an integrated ecosystem where agricultural production and processing coexist within a shared facility to enhance efficiency and value addition.

He disclosed that the free trade zone would feature a dedicated power supply, waste management systems, an independent administrative framework and a robust security architecture.

The governor further revealed that the zone is expected to host what he described as the world’s largest cotton garment processing factory, a development he said would significantly boost employment and industrial activity.
“What is a Special Agro-Processing Zone? It is a designated expanse of land dedicated to converting agro-raw materials into finished goods. You can liken it to a shopping mall of processing companies,” he said.

He added that Ogun State partnered with a firm that has successfully implemented similar projects in Benin Republic, Lomé, Côte d’Ivoire and other African countries—an alliance he described as the Ogun State–ARISE partnership that birthed the Industrial Platform.