The Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Aleredolu, SAN, on Tuesday performed the ground-breaking ceremony of the Ala Resort Aerotropolis Development Project located at Akure Airport, Obaile.

The Aerotropolis project is the first in Sub-Saharan Africa.

At the ceremony today at Obaile in Akure North local government area, Governor Akeredolu who was represented by his Deputy, Hon Lucky Aiyedatiwa expressed delight that Ondo State is the location for First Aerotropolis City in Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa.

The Governor explained that siting the landmark project in the state would be very profitable to the people and government of the state.

He said Ondo State as one of the safest states in Nigeria would protect the investment jealously to achieve set goals.

Akeredolu 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 an address, the Chairman, Board of Directors of Ala Resort, Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, said the resort will reshape the economic landscape and fortunes of Ondo state and the Southwest in general.

According to Olanipekun, “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, who pleaded with the host community, Oba-Ile and the Ondo state government to support the initiative, however, said the resort would be a benefit to all including neighbouring states like Ekiti state.

The Managing Director/Chief Executive of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Rabiu Yadudu, who also spoke at the ground breaking ceremony, said the project will generate enough employment opportunities that will help reduce significantly the unemployment rate in Ondo state in particular and Nigeria in general.

Yadudu, who was represented by the Director of Commercial and Business Development, Sadiku Abdulkadir Rafindadi 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 Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) is confident that with Ala Resort’s assembled team of world class architects, planners, and developers the project is a sure bet”.

Yadudu, therefore, called on all stakeholders to remain committed to the project’s success, ensuring that it delivers on its promises.

Speaking on the project, Moyosola Niran-Oladunni, the Executive Vice Chairman of Ala Resort, said “the project seeks 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.