IT is the tree set at nought that causes one to journey and fall, so says the elders, and critics of the Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, learnt that lesson so nicely. The naysayers must have learnt from the extraordinary persecution that heralded his transfer into the Oke Mosan Authorities Home, however they didn’t, partially due to the ability of hearsay. If entering into workplace was tedious, preserving it was struggle. No sooner had he assumed workplace than opposition figures inside and with out ganged up towards him, telling whoever cared to hear that nothing good may from his administration. However the Iperu-born prince—and sure, he’s really a prince—wouldn’t deviate from his focus. He saved in thoughts the motto of the Royal Air Drive: Per adua advert astra (By way of issue to the celebrities), and the influx of initiatives and investments into the state ever since has validated his place.
At this very second, Ogun is on the cusp of an enormous turnaround in power and meals manufacturing. Don’t take my phrase for it: Google is your buddy. Nigeria’s industrial capital is intent on absolutely leveraging the current modification to the 1999 Structure which permits federating models to generate their electrical energy independently and sufficiently in line with their wants, and Governor Abiodun made this clear whereas receiving a delegation from Brazilian firms, Ambar Energia Brazil, led by its President, Mr. Marcelo Zanatta, and the CEO of an agricultural agency, JBX, Mr Jose Batista, who visited the state for an on-the-spot evaluation of assorted sectors of the Ogun financial system. President of Ambar Energia Brazil, Mr. Marcelo Zanatta, and the consultant of JBX recommended the Ogun State Authorities for offering the mandatory infrastructure to facilitate funding progress, pledging to take a position massively within the energy sector and contribute considerably to the state’s industrial growth.
Ogun at present consumes roughly 8,200 megawatts of electrical energy, with a whopping 80 % of this generated independently. And the administration is absolutely decided to attain self-sufficiency in energy era via varied strategic initiatives. For one factor, it has the benefit of fuel reticulation, with two main fuel pipelines traversing the state, making certain easy accessibility to power throughout the eight industrial clusters. Truly, an Unbiased Energy Plant meant to offer 24-hour of uninterrupted electrical energy to most elements of Abeokuta, the state capital, shall be prepared for commissioning shortly. Governor Abiodun made this recognized in February after inspecting the 30-megawatts energy plant positioned in Onijanganjangan, close to Ewekoro. The venture, run in collaboration with non-public sector companions, is the primary part of the Ogun State Mild Up Challenge. The ability plant will present fixed electrical energy to authorities establishments like workplaces, well being amenities, authorities quarters, police stations, native authorities workplaces, and better establishments, and can ultimately attain non-public people and industries when the capability is elevated.
The state that hosts Dangote, Nestlé, and Lafarge and different huge companies is able to thrive. The biggest protein producer on this planet, JBS of Brazil, has indicated curiosity in investing $2.5bn within the livestock subsector of Nigeria’s financial system, and it’s set to seize that funding. The Controlling Shareholder of the corporate, Mr. Wesley Batista, gave this indication when officers of his agency, led by the Controlling Shareholder of EMN, Mr. John Coumantaros, visited the folks’s Governor at Oke-Mosan. Governor Abiodun promised to open up Ogun State for investments and industrialization, and he has achieved already that. Roads are being constructed left, proper and centre and buyers are pouring into the state. After which there may be the peace and tranquility which have attended his stewardship, and the place of Ogun within the comity of states. Ogun is being envied as a result of throughout all sectors—agric, training, safety, surroundings, human capital growth—discernible progress is being made. Ask the President of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, who not too long ago revealed that his firm determined to return to Ogun State due to Prince Abiodun’s imaginative and prescient and the state’s investor-friendly local weather. Now, in Itori and Ibeshe, cement vegetation focused at producing a mixed 18 million metric tons each year are being constructed, doubtlessly making Ogun the best cement producing state or area in Africa. And there’s a deep seaport besides as a part of Dangote’s $700 million funding.
In addition to, the Abiodun administration is constructing a dry port to additional open up the state for funding alternatives, along with the over 4,000 inexpensive homes already constructed for medium and upper-income earners in Abeokuta, Ilaro, Sagamu, Iperu, Ijebu-Ode and Ota. Abiodun’s Gateway State has an enormous IGR profile that marks it out as one of many few financially self-sufficient states within the nation. It has Nigeria’s largest industrial structure, is without doubt one of the few states with N150bn IGR yearly, and may conveniently pay salaries with out federal help.
The funding story isn’t a fluke. In April 2022, the Ogun State authorities signed a $400m MoU with a international agency, Come up Built-in Industrial Platform, on the event of Olokola Free Commerce Zone and Remo Agro Processing Zone. In August of the identical yr, a metal conglomerate, African Industries Group, pledged to take a position over $500m within the Ogun State financial system. Nigerians will do not forget that in Might 2023, the Canadian Authorities indicated curiosity in investing within the agricultural and technological sectors of the Ogun financial system to strengthen over 60 years of the bilateral relationship with Nigeria. In July 2024, the South Africa-Nigeria Enterprise Chamber pledged to spearhead aggressive funding drive for Ogun State, funding sequence of investments to drive financial progress and growth within the State. The following month, the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) expressed sturdy help for the $500 million funding by the Japanese Worldwide Cooperation Company (JICA) to boost energy infrastructure in Ogun State. Additionally, a Chinese language firm, Interior Galaxy Metal Firm Restricted, in October final yr, introduced a $300 million funding to ascertain a brand new metal plant for the manufacturing of specialized metal merchandise in Ogun State, and in the identical month, the Ogun State Authorities introduced the institution of a $5 million battery recycling plant by a British firm.
It may be no shock that Governor Abiodun’s imaginative and prescient is taking form with the city renewal initiative throughout main cities within the state: the housing initiatives initiated by his administration have added lustre and wonder to all main cities throughout the state. Kobape, Iperu, Ijebu Ode and Ilaro at the moment are being known as sensible cities. The primary part of 35 homes are receiving ending touches on the Ibara Authorities Reservation Space, Abeokuta, with drainages, sidewalks, photo voltaic avenue lights, electrical energy and water reticulation already in place. Hear Governor Abiodun: “You possibly can see that the designs are very pleasing to the eyes and the completion can be commendable. This venture isn’t executed by international contractor and it’s not even in contract however constructed by direct labour to make sure that our residents who’re artisans like painters, bricklayers, carpenters, welders take part on this development.”
Governor Dapo Abiodun took over the reconstruction of the 81-kilometres Lagos-Ota-Abeokuta Expressway after sustained diplomatic engagements with the Federal Authorities. Critics of the street scenario within the state had dwelled on the poor state of federal roads. However now the story has modified. Residents of the Lagos-Ogun border communities can testify to the large development and reconstruction of roads within the space after many years of abandonment. Go to Alagbole, Ajuwon, Akute and different communities in Ifo Native Authorities Space of the state, and see wonders. The world class Agro-cargo Airport positioned alongside the Ilisan-Iperu axis, a facility extensively adjudged as the most important in Nigeria with its 4km runway and customary apron, is after all one more story, as is Governor Abiodun’s deal with ICT, which has tremendously improved the standard of training in faculties. It’s no accident {that a} instructor from Ogun State, Mr. Kayode Adewale, is without doubt one of the greatest 50 lecturers on this planet.
On the finish of the day, we should always thank the doubters, shouldn’t we?
Akinmade despatched this piece via; [email protected]