The former French Minister of Transport, Mr. Djebbari Jean-Baptiste, has hinted at the interest of investors from his country in the transport sector of Ogun State, especially the agro-cargo airport.

Other areas of interest for the investors, according to Mr. Jean-Baptiste, include the Dry Port, the Olokola Sea Port, and the railway system.

Fielding questions from newsmen after a closed-door meeting with the governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, in his office at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, Mr Jean-Baptiste expressed his admiration for the level of infrastructural development at the airport, highlighting the need to draw the attention of French investors to the state.

He said: “This is one of the several meetings I have had with the governor over the years. We discussed aviation-related items owing to the fact that the state is developing the Gateway International Airport, the Dry Port, and all the major infrastructural projects related to transport.

“We have many French operators involved in transportation, logistics, and aviation. There are many interested in investing in Nigeria and Ogun State because Ogun State is seen as a very dynamic and reliable partner.”

He revealed that he had met the governor on several occasions, including last December during President Bola Tinubu’s state visit to President Emmanuel Macron in France. He proposed this visit to explore contributions to Ogun State’s impressive transport and aviation development.

During his two-day visit, Mr. Jean-Baptiste’s team is set to tour the Gateway International Airport, assess opportunities regarding the Dry Port, Sea Port, and railway system, and share experiences. “I can see your products are developing very quickly and booming, the demography and market demand are very high,” he added.

He described Governor Abiodun as a visionary leader who has assembled a competent team to achieve his goals for the state. “It has been six years since the governor took charge, and I can see massive and positive changes,” he noted.

Governor Abiodun informed his guests about his administration’s development of a multimodal transport master plan designed to enhance the state’s transportation modes and boost its economy.

“We took advantage of the rail infrastructure that the federal government has invested in; that is what informed our Gateway International Airport and the construction of our Dry Port and upcoming seaport.

“We believe that cargo destined for Ogun State or other states can be transported by train to Kajola and cleared there. This will enhance the efficiency of Tin Can and Apapa Ports and ease the challenges manufacturers here have faced in the past.

“Our airport, in terms of physical construction, is completed. The runway is 100% finished, and the control tower is fully equipped. The terminal building is about 90% completed, with physical structures done and fit-outs ongoing. We also have a temporary terminal building,” he explained.

The governor stated that commercial operations would have commenced in the last quarter but for the non-installation of navigational equipment such as runway lights. He stressed that his administration aims to make the airport the best-equipped in Nigeria.

“The airport, as I told you, is an ecosystem. It is situated in what we call our aerotropolis. We have a Special Agro-Processing Zone there and the Nigeria Customs and Excise Village because we envision the airport as a hub where Customs and Excise can process goods quickly,” he added.