The Akure Airport in Nigeria is set to become an aerotropolis in a first-of-its-kind project in sub-Saharan Africa.

The Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has partnered with Ala Resort Limited to inaugurate the project, with a Memorandum of Understanding to be signed between the two parties.

An aerotropolis is an airport-based city, surrounded by commercial, educational, entertainment, healthcare and hospitality centres. The project will involve the development of institutional, industrial, commercial and agricultural zones in phases.

These will include a sports academy built by the Emirate Foundation and a medical centre by a US company, while the industrial zone will include assembly and manufacturing sectors.

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The project has the potential to catalyse cargo business at the airport and FAAN is expected to activate the cargo shed. The project will be executed as a public-private partnership, with Ala Resort Limited and FAAN working together.

The project is set to employ over 14,000 skilled workers and the infrastructure facilities will cost N56bn.

The CEO of Ala Resort Limited, Moyosola Niran-Oladunni, said that the project would impact the state and drive lives around the aviation industry. Experts were invited to assess the airport for its suitability for the project, which FAAN approved.

The project will be inaugurated with a ground-breaking ceremony, to be performed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, assisted by the Ondo State governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, and Minister of Aviation, Mr Hadi Sirika.

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The General Manager, Business Development, FAAN Headquarters, Mr Hycinth Ngwu, said the decision was anchored on private/public partnership geared towards developing an aerotropolis in the airport.

Akure Airport is expected to revolutionise the way FAAN generates revenue and the management and staff of the airport are ready to support the project.