President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Saturday declared that his administration’s infrastructure development and economic reforms are fundamentally for the benefit, well-being, and prosperity of Nigerian citizens, as he inaugurated the Gateway Cargo International Airport and launched two new aircraft owned by the new Gateway Airline in Iperu, Ogun State.
“Our investment is about our people,” the President said during the ceremony. “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.”
President Tinubu commended Governor Dapo Abiodun for his continued 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 focus on energy investment.
“Development must touch every level,” President Tinubu added. “I am particularly pleased with the mobility, the security and the agricultural initiatives being fulfilled today.”
Beyond the airport and airline launch, the President inaugurated 1,000 electric bikes, security vehicles, and tractors. He described the introduction 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.
The President 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 the state’s developmental initiatives with the federal government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
President Tinubu further 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.
During the visit, the President also launched the Customs Hub, which includes barracks, a training college, a warehouse, and a hospital.
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.
Governor 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,” Governor Abiodun said.
He further listed other landmark initiatives, including the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Programme, the NELFUND, the ongoing Rail Modernisation, major highway reconstruction projects such as 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, speaking 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.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, on behalf of himself and the people of the state, thanked President Tinubu for his visionary and purposeful leadership and tenacity.
“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. And it is due to what we have got from all the governors and those who have worked with all the governors,” the former President said.
Also at the event were 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 the state also attended the event.
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