By TUNDE OLADUNJOYE
CITIZENS COMPASS–Ogun State Governor , Prince Dapo Abiodun, will on Friday, host the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Oyetola, at the ground breaking ceremony of the Gateway Inland Dry Port, at Itori, Ewekoro Local Government.
This is in his stead of foresighted execution of life impacting legacy projects in the State.
Coming, on the heels of the Gateway Agro Cargo Airport situated at Ilisan-Iperu, and the Olokola Deep Sea Port to be soon inaugurated, the new Gateway Inland Dey Port, another first of its kind in the history of the gateway state, Dapo Abiodun comes across not only as a silent achiever, but also as a leader with futuristic outlook, who thinks about positively impacting the present and future generations of the state in all ramifications.
After the inauguration note Lagos/Ogun Joint Development Commission, the hardworking Ogun helmsman, has been walking his talk, capitalising on the potentials of the of Ogun State to Lagos State, the financial and commercial centre of Nigeria.
The Dapo Abiodun Administration has meticulously initiated and assiduously promoted business friendly industrial, and socio economic policies and enhanced the ease of doing business, coupled with the institutional framework such as the Office of Public Private Partnership, Business Roundtable with Private Sector, Ogun State Agency for Business Promotion and Facilitation, are invigorated Ogun Inland Revenue Service and the digitalized Bureau of Lands and other agencies of the government; has served to attract several global concerns and businesses to the State.
The activities of the supportive agencies have culminated into millions of dollars flowing into Nigeria through the gateway state. According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), in its recent report on foreign investment inflows, only six states and the federal capital territory out of the thirty seven states were able to attract foreign direct investment between 2023 and 2024. Ogun state is one of the six states and it attracted, just within a year, a whopping sum of about N41 billion ($25 million).
In response to the agricultural programme of the government leading to the processing zone in partnership with the Africa Development Bank, numerous medium scale industries, especially those associated with the agricultural production and processing sector are also being established in large numbers.
The geographical location of the Ogun State as a veritable link to the north and eastern regions of the country and same to the West Africa sub-region, earning it the appellation of the “gateway state” has placed Ogun State on a critical economic pedestal that it cannot be ignored. Also, the scale of ongoing industrial activities in the state and its advantageous accessibility has seen the citing of the first African Quality Assurance Centre in Ogun State.
Not a few people wondered when in February 2020, the governor created the Ministry of Transportation, for the first time in the history of Ogun State. Some cynics felt, though erroneously, that it was a waste of funds. Not deterred, Governor Abiodun, a goal-getter, known for tenacity of purpose, went ahead to persuade an ogun indigene making exploits abroad back home to head the new ministry. Engineer Olugbenga Dairo, a Nairobi based Transportation Consultant to the European Union, working with the Kenyan Government, was appointed as the first ever Commissioner for Transportation in Ogun State. The state is no doubt the better for it; with a series of policies and projects, including the new Deep Sea Port, under the leadership of Prince Dapo Abiodun.
The Ogun State Strategic Multi Modal Transport Master Plan therefore, identifies the need for effective logistics and transport infrastructure and services across the state, recognizing that shipping services and movement of goods play an important role in global trade and commerce, the Gateway Inland Dry Port (GIDP) and other strategic transportation infrastructure across the provide the needed synergy for rapid economic growth, employment generation and prosperity.
The GIDP is to be situated in a new/planned development area to be known as ‘Dry Port City’ (DPC), will include mixed developments of residences, logistics infrastructure, complimentary commercial and industrial developments and new multi-modal transportation infrastructure.
The GIDP and Dry Port City (DPC) are key to sustaining Ogun State’s rapid industrial growth, addressing increased urbanization as well as supporting national efforts to ease the congestion at Apapa/Tin Can ports, notorious for traffic bottlenecks; and reducing the waiting time for cargo handling and storage experienced by industry.
The GIDP and DPC are strategically positioned at the intersection of the Lagos to Ibadan Standard Gauge Railway and the proposed East-West Railway Corridor connecting Lagos to the east via Kajola. The site of the GIDP and DPC is also connected to the national highway network being accessible via the Lagos – Abeokuta Highway and the Sagamu to Benin and Sagamu to Lagos Highways via the Papalanto to Sagamu Interchange Road.
The GIDP and DPC development has adopted the state Public-Private Partnership policy as basis for its delivery, operations, maintenance and management.
The design of the GIDP is spread over an area of 499 Ha for Phase 1 and 100 Ha for a subsequent phase. The site will be composed of the following essential land uses: Railway Siding Area, Container Freight Station and Container Depot Area, Warehouses and Bonded Warehouses, Mineral Yard, Truck Parking, Specialized Industrial Zone, Supporting Facilities and Utilities, Internal Road Network, Green Areas.
The achievements of the Dapo Abiodun Administration are no doubt source of envy to his opponents and the actualization of yet another legacy project, adds to the pains of the nay-sayers.However, regardless of tantrums from critics, Dapo Abiodun may stridently be on the way of breaking the jinx of non-performance by second term governors.
