AfDB To Establish Agro Testing Centre In Ogun

The African Development Bank (AfDB) has said it is set to establish a world-class agro testing centre in Sagamu, Ogun State.

According to the bank, when the centre is built, it will stimulate the standardisation of farm produce export from Africa, adding that the Sagamu site is the only facility approved in Africa.

The bank further revealed that the site was conceived as part of the ancillary infrastructure to drive viability for the about-to-be-completed Ogun International Agro Cargo Airport in Ilisan Remo, Ogun State.

Ade Akinsanya, Ogun State Commissioner for Works & Infrastructure, who confirmed the development, said the project is put together as part of international collaboration for driving air transport infrastructure in Africa.

According to him, the project would address challenges associated with processing agro-allied produce for export.

“The only testing site approved in Africa by the AfDB will be located at a site not too far from here – Sagamu.

"That is one of the challenges people exporting goods out of Nigeria face because most of those goods don’t meet the international standard.

"So, before anything goes out, it will be tested before you can export it and it is just nearby.

"There will be an international testing centre here where all agro-produce that goes out of Nigeria will come here and be certified as complying with international standards.

"So, once that is done, goods from here can be exported to anywhere in the world. All parcels coming into Nigeria would be flown to our airport here before they are now redistributed to any part of Nigeria.”

He added that the new air transport facility aims at taking pressure off the Lagos Airport.

“You can also see the location of the airport, where we are now is about the centre of Ogun State. At the airport on the western side, you will see the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, on the southern side, you have the Sagamu -Benin Expressway.

“So, whichever way you want to approach the airport, the logistics of that is easy to Lagos, which is the fifth-largest economy in Africa and Nigeria’s largest economy.

"To the hinterland, you have easy access, if you want to go to the east, north and other parts of the western it is easy.

“So, goods coming in and out of our neighbouring states will come here and this will also decongest Lagos and it will spread development across the country, especially for us in Ogun State.

"Whatever they grow in Nigeria can be exported from this place and whatever they produce in any part of the world can also land here.

"There are lots of opportunities for the exportation of foodstuff.

“One good thing is Ogun State is very vital. One thing is that this will also boost the agro-processing and agro products in the state.

“Lagos is too crowded as it is. The cargo operators are not having a good time, the passengers also are complaining.

"So, this will be a relief to everyone. Passengers can land here and be in Lagos within 30 minutes and for those going to the east, they can land here and be anywhere within a few hours.

"So, the viability to me is the best location and it will be a big relief for Lagos also.

“Ogun state has the most industry. Sagamu is just about a 10 minutes drive and we have lots of industries there, which will make it easy for them rather than going to Lagos.

"All the things that will complement the airport to make it a good business are being done.”