Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Saturday praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his visionary, purposeful leadership and tenacity, as Tinubu commissioned the Gateway Cargo International Airport in Iperu, Ogun State.
Speaking on behalf of himself and the people of the state, Obasanjo reflected on the state’s 50-year journey since its creation, noting that the level of development witnessed at the event was once unimaginable.
“When Ogun State was created 50 years ago, I was part of the process. Nobody at the time would have thought we would have what we have today,” the former President said. He credited the achievement to the collective efforts of all governors who have served the state and those who worked alongside them.
President Tinubu, who also launched two new aircraft owned by the new Gateway Airline during the event, used the occasion to reassure Nigerians that his administration’s infrastructure development and economic reforms are designed for the benefit, well-being, and prosperity of citizens.
“Our investment is about our people,” Tinubu said. “The infrastructure underscores our faith in our country, the belief that today’s foundation is for tomorrow’s prosperity. Thank you all for your understanding.”
The President commended Governor Dapo Abiodun for demonstrating consistent commitment to the well-being of Ogun State citizens and Nigerians at large. He noted that the newly commissioned airport is connected to an independent power supply, reflecting the administration’s strategic investment in energy.
“Development must touch every level,” Tinubu added. “I am particularly pleased with the mobility, the security and the agricultural initiatives being fulfilled today.”
Beyond the airport, the President inaugurated 1,000 electric bikes, security vehicles, and tractors. He described the adoption of electric bikes as a smart response to modern transportation needs, emphasizing that embracing technology over fossil fuel is the way forward to improve daily life.
President Tinubu also commended Nigerians for their continued faith in the All Progressives Congress (APC), stating that the reforms his administration has initiated have translated into more resources for sub-national governments. He expressed pride in state governors for their judicious utilisation of resources and specifically lauded Governor Abiodun for aligning Ogun State’s developmental initiatives with the federal government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
In a related development, the President launched the Customs Hub, which includes barracks, a training college, a warehouse, and a hospital. He lauded the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, for various initiatives that have enhanced the ease of doing business and prioritised the welfare of his workforce.
“Nigeria will continue to remember you. Your legacies, commitment and patriotism are well appreciated,” the President stated.
Governor Abiodun, thanking the President for the historic visit, highlighted it as symbolic of Tinubu’s commitment to national development and his belief in sub-nationals as growth engines. The governor credited the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda with placing Nigeria on a path of economic recovery, fiscal discipline, and sustainable growth.
Abiodun specifically lauded the President’s bold economic reforms, including the unification of the foreign exchange rate, the removal of the fuel subsidy, and the repositioning of public finance to reflect market realities. According to the governor, these steps have gone a long way toward restoring investors’ confidence and attracting foreign direct investment.
“Your efforts in expanding revenue through improved tax administration, digitisation of government processes and strengthening of agencies have started to address long-standing structural weaknesses,” Abiodun said.
He further listed other landmark initiatives, such as the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Programme, the NELFUND, the ongoing Rail Modernisation, major highway reconstruction projects including the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the Badagry-Sokoto Highway, as well as all reforms in the oil and gas sector aimed at boosting production and transparency. “All point to a deliberate reset of our national economy,” the governor added.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who also spoke at the event, commended President Tinubu’s democratic antecedents and reiterated that the National Assembly remains a veritable tool for deepening democracy in Nigeria. He thanked the President for several key reforms and ideas brought to fruition, crediting Tinubu as the first to initiate Independent Power Plants in Lagos—a model since adopted by other states.
Akpabio appealed to the President to decentralise the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) for a more effective power system. He also lauded Tinubu for his strong belief in Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), starting with significant growth in Lagos’ revenue and implementing federal reforms that have empowered sub-nationals financially.
“This has enabled states to avoid borrowing for salaries and projects, leading to widespread appreciation from governors,” Akpabio said.
Other dignitaries at the event included the Ministers of Finance and the Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun; Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo; Communication and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani; Governor of the CBN, Olayemi Cardoso; as well as the governors of Borno, Niger, Taraba, Lagos, Ondo, Oyo, Bayelsa, and Ekiti states. Traditional rulers from Ogun State also attended.
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