Sanwo-Olu Receives FG Approval to Build Lekki Airport

Aviation Minister Hadi Sirika on Tuesday presented an official letter of approval for the construction of the Lekki-Epe International Airport project to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State.

Mr. Sirika, on behalf of the Federal Government, presented the letter to the Governor at the 9th Ehingbeti Lagos Economic Summit, held at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island.

The Lekki Airport, which will be built around the Lekki Free Zone (LFZ), is expected to help manufacturers and other business owners in the zone transport their products overseas.

The Minister said that Lagos State was very important to the economy of the country, adding that Murtala Muhammed Airport was currently congested.

According to him, Lagos has the resources and requirements for an additional airport which will help decongest Murtala Muhammad Airport.

The minister said it was a big step in the right direction for Mr Sanwo-Olu to build another airport in the state.

"Lagos with its GDP, Housing and Stock Exchange, 200 financial institutions, 25 million people in 5,377 square kilometers including the Eko Atlantic, all industries, tradition, history, tourist attraction, the Eyo Le festival, etc., must be connected to the world.

"For Lagos to continue to be the center of the economy of activity of the country, Nigeria, the single best way to connect this city of Lagos to the world is obviously through infrastructure, and especially aviation civil.

“The expansion of Lagos is astronomical, huge, huge. The idea and the size of the economy is good and big. So you must continue to connect Lagos, not only with Nigeria, but also with the 'Africa and the world.

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"You won't go wrong because aviation has the ability and uniqueness to connect markets, to connect history, tradition and culture, people, schools and hospitals, which Lagos owns," he said.

Furthermore, Governor Sanwo-Olu said the project is a partnership between the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Aviation, and Lagos State for the benefit of citizens and businesses.

He said the state government is engaging in Business2Business as well as Government2Business to develop economies like Lagos State.

The governor said it was about giving them a platform where the infrastructure and opportunity for their businesses to thrive is available.

“This infrastructure will reduce travel time, make Lagos easily and more accessible, and people will be able to make local and international business decisions, given all the investments that have been made in this direction,” he said. he declared.

Recall that the state government had said that the project, which should start in 2023, would be built on 3,500 hectares of land.

He said the master plan and aeronautical designs for the planned airport are in place.

He said that studies are underway on strategies, financing and other issues, after which the project will be put on the market.

The airport, according to the state government, is expected to handle at least five million people a year and will be built in partnership with local and foreign investors. (NAN)

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