The Ondo State Governor, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu, on Tuesday, unveiled a multi-billion naira aerotropolis project sited at Oba Ile Community in the Akure North Local Government Area of the state.
It was gathered that the project is in partnership with the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria and a private firm, the Ala Resort Limited.
Akeredolu, who was represented by his deputy, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa, expressed delight over the project, saying the project, after completion would bring a lot of benefits to the community and the state at large, particularly in the area of employment and revenue generation.
He said, “Siting this investment here will be very profitable, Ondo State is an investment designation. The location of the resort will determine the kind of the package that will put together for the good people of Ondo State and Nigeria as a whole.
“It will bring a lot of benefits to this community, Oba-Ile, it will also give us a great revenue as the state. And Ondo State is one of the safest place in Nigeria in terms of security.”
In his remarks, the Board of Directors of the Ala Resort Limited, Chief Wole Olanipekun, said the aerotropolis would reshape the economic landscape and fortunes of Ondo State and the South-West in general.
“This project is centred around the Akure Airport, which will serve as its primary driver. Its growth and evolution will rest on carefully planned world class infrastructure that will enable it to develop rapidly, yet organically into a postmodern aerotropolis, a multifunctional business hub, a residential haven, a holiday and tourism destination with safe, easy, unfettered and seamless access to the global community.
“Another significant spin-off of this project is the positive impact its presence will have on the economic growth of contiguous states, especially Ekiti and Osun, by bringing the attention of the world to the enormous but relatively unutilized economic potential domiciled within them.”
Olanipekun urged the host community — Oba-Ile — and the Ondo State Government to support the initiative, as, according to him, the resort would be a benefit to all the stakeholders .
The Managing Director/Chief Executive of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Rabiu Yadudu, who also spoke at the ceremony, declared that the project would generate enough employment opportunities that will help reduce, significantly, the unemployment rate in Ondo State in particular and Nigeria in general.
Represented by the Director of Commercial and Business Development, Sadiku Rafindadi , the MD said, “Ala Resort project will also create a world class business hub that attracts global companies, talents, drives, innovation and fosters economic growth. I believe this is the fastest way to increase passenger, cargo and aircraft traffic in Akure airport and gradually upgrade it to international airport.
“The FAAN is confident that with Ala Resort’s assembled team of world class architects, planners, and developers the project is a sure bet”.
Speaking on the project, Moyosola Niran-Oladunni, the Executive Vice Chairman of the resort, explained that the project sought to create an eco-friendly and vibrant community of diverse and complementary uses “cutting across residential neighbourhoods supplemented by public open space, civic, ancillary commercial facilities, an 18-hole golf course plus other commercial leisure and entertainment facilities and an industrial enclave supporting typical light industrial and logistics activities.”
