Federal Govt Presents Approval For Lekki-Epe International Airport

TAIWO ADELU

<em><strong>L-R: Sam Egube, commissioner for economic planning and budget, Lagos State; Nike Aboderin, director, finance and account, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN); Hadi Sirika, minister of aviation; Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor, Lagos State, his deputy Obafemi Hamzat; Rabiu Yadudu, managing director, FAAN, and Ope George, director general, Public Private Partnership, Lagos State Government, during the opening ceremony of Ehingbeti Lagos Economic Summit 2022 in Lagos on Tuesday.</strong></em>

The Federal Government has formally presented approval to the Lagos State Government for the construction of a passenger and cargo airport.

The airport, which will be situated at Lekki-Epe axis of the state, will be constructed on 3,500 hectares of land.

The presentation of the approval was done by the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika during Day One of the Ehingbeti Lagos Economic Summit 2022 going on at the Eko Hotel & Suites, Lagos Island.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu received the approval from the Minister amid loud ovation from the guests at the Summit.

The Minister said the new airport will serve as a veritable alternative for the overstretched Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Ikeja.

“The new airport will be beneficial to the people of Lagos and indeed all Nigerians,” said Sirika, who was accompanied to the Summit by Rabiu Yadudu, Managing Director, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and Ms Nike Aboderin, Director, Finance and Accounts, FAAN.

Speaking on the ongoing Ehingbeti Lagos Economic Summit, Sirika, who said he lived 27 years of his life in Lagos, described the development in Lagos since 1999 till date as phenomenon, adding that Lagos is a home for every Nigerian irrespective of ethnic backgrounds where opportunity abound.

Alinnor Arinze