The Akure Airport is set to witness the first Aerotropolis in sub Saharan Africa.
This is as the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has concluded arrangements with a private company, Ala Resort Ltd, to develop and transform the Airport.
An Aerotropolis is a city within an airport.
Addressing newsmen in Akure, the Ondo State capital on the project takeoff billed for tomorrow Tuesday, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ala Resort, Mr. Moyosola Niran-Oladunni, explained that the company in partnership with FAAN was bringing ideas that would impact values on the state’s economy.
According to Niran-Oladunni, the resort had begun moves on the Aerotropolis since 2017 when experts were invited to assess the Akure airport for its suitability for the project.
Moyosore who identified Akure Airport with the second largest land mass after Abuja Airport, revealed that FAAN had approved the project, which he said would be constructed in phases including institutional, industrial, commercial and agricultural hubs.
He pointed out that “the Aerotropolis would parade institutional zone including Sports Academy that could host any club, which would be built by Emirate Foundation; medical centre, to be built by a US company.
“The industrial zone would also enable all materials to be used for the construction to be assembled and manufactured in the sector within.”
Niran-Oladunni added that the Aerotropolis has the potential to catalyse cargo business in the airport, saying the airport authority would activate the cargo shed in the airport.
He disclosed that no fewer than 14,000 skilled workers would be engaged by the Aerotropolis City which the infrastructure facilities would gulp N56billion.
Also speaking, the General Manager, Business Development, FAAN Headquarters, Mr. Hycinth Ngwu, said the decision was anchored on private/public partnership geared towards developing an aerotropolis in the airport.
He disclosed that the project was a revolution in the way the authority generates revenue.
Ngwu assured that the project, which the groundbreaking would hold on Tuesday, would be executed as planned and Akure Airport would be the best.
Appreciating the company, the host community, Ondo State government and all stakeholders for pushing for the project success, the FAAN Business Development general manager said: “It’s of the interest of all stakeholders to support the project. It will increase revenue base of the state and local government.
“Certainly majority of the employees will come from the locality. They should support it because it will transform to their successes.
“We intend to replicate this in other airports. We started in Akure because it initially had the largest land mass before being overtaken recently by Abuja Airport,” Ngwu said.
On her part, Mrs Lynda Ifesinachi Ezike, the Manager of Akure Airport, assured that the management and staff of the airport were expectant and ready to support the proposed unprecedented developmental mega project in the airport.
According to Ezike, “We are ready to support Ala Resort Ltd in ensuring the success of this mega project which is for the betterment of all stakeholders.”
Photo of story is that of an Aerotropolis courtesy Wikipedia
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