James Ogunnaike
Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun has mentioned that the State is able to take up all of the shock that its proximity to Lagos brings.
In response to him, there are benefits and drawbacks of being an overflow to Lagos State, assuring that the state had laid a plan of actions and mechanisms that may be certain that “as individuals start emigrate from Lagos to Ogun, to both reside, work or play, the state is able to give them high quality training, high quality well being care, transportation, clear water and clear energy.”
The Governor disclosed this in an interview on a British Broadcasting Company (BBC) Radio programme, Give attention to Africa.
This was contained in a press release issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Kunle Somorin and made obtainable to newsmen in Abiodun, the Ogun State capital.
He mentioned Abiodun lauded the choice of the UK Authorities to determine the state as one of many beneficiaries of Eighty Million Greenback Fund below the aegis of its International Future Cities Prosperity Fund Programme.
The Governor mentioned the inclusion of Ogun State within the scheme “is a sworn statement to the truth that the state isn’t just a Gateway state to Nigeria however the truth that the management of the State is poised to brace as much as the challenges and switch all of the push components of the continent’s fifth-largest economic system to drag components that may stand the check of millennial improvement”.
The International Future Cities Prosperity Fund Programme lately recognized Ogun State as one of many nineteen cities in ten nations that may profit from the prosperity fund arrange by the UK authorities.
“Happily, the International Future Cities Prosperity Fund Programme has rightly recognized Abeokuta as one of many 19 cities in ten nations that can take part within the International Prosperity Future Cities Programme.
“What does this converse to? It speaks to recognizing the truth that at present Ogun State is known as the Gateway state for a purpose – since you can not traverse between Lagos and the remainder of Nigeria with out going by way of Ogun State. Ogun State has now turn into an overflow to Lagos.
“We have to be ready for that overflow in all ramifications. So, as individuals start emigrate from Lagos to Ogun, to both reside, work and play, we should be certain that we offer for them high quality training, high quality transport and well being care; we should present clear water, clear energy, clear setting and good bodily improvement,” he mentioned.
The governor acknowledged that the current administration within the state would give the state a facelift that may appeal to the type of funding able to turning the state right into a metropolis that might face up to fashionable improvement by way of structure and infrastructure.
Abiodun who visited Kings Cross Station in London mentioned he was guided by the truth that 10 years made a distinction.
“Ten years in the past what it appeared like and what it now seems like at present and the thought was for me to take a look and really feel of how a slum can now be regenerated into a brand new metropolis the place individuals can reside, work and play.
“So, the whole lot we’re doing within the state now could be non-public sector pushed. We’ve put in quite a lot of reforms to make sure that Ogun State is certainly able to work the discuss,” he mentioned.
He disclosed that the state has additionally put in place an company – Ogun Make investments, which is the Ogun State Funding Promotion Company – that may be saddled with the duty of doing the whole lot that must be executed to encourage the non-public sector do enterprise with the state with relative ease.
The governor added that his administration is aware of absolutely effectively that such improvement couldn’t be embarked upon with out contemplating the welfare of the individuals, saying that every one is now set within the state to utilize the over 12,000 sqm of arable land for the aim of creating the state a meals basket.
“You can’t be doing this stuff with out making certain that you just put meals on the desk of the individuals. Ogun State is an agricultural state, we’re about 16,000sq. meters, out of which 12,000 sq. metres is arable land.
“We’re the closest to the fifth largest economic system on the continent; we’re the closest to the most important seaport in Nigeria; the largest airport in Nigeria. So, we have now the whole lot it takes to feed Lagos State.
“We have now now determined that we’re going to make agriculture our precedence as a result of, by way of agriculture, we will feed ourselves, we will make use of our individuals, and we will generate income.”
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