Kunle Adelabu
The state of the Odogunyan Industrial Estate Road where it link Ita Oluwo, today.
It has been revealed that the Federal Government (FG) has paid N1bilion for the reconstruction of the Odogunyan Industrial Estate in Ikorodu Division of Lagos State, Southwest, Nigeria, in fulfillment of its pledged to collaborate with the Lagos to make the dilapidated road motorable.
The Federal Government delegation to the commissioning of the Kimberly Clark Manufacturing Plant at Odogunyan led by the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo and Lagos Sate Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo – Olu, had agreed to jointly fund the construction of the road of the largest industrial estate in West Africa to aid the ease of doing business in the axis.
Rep. Babajimi Benson, the representative of the Ikorodu Federal Constituency, who was also present during the commissioning of the plant, revealed this during the kick –off of his ‘Listening Tour’ of his constituency on Sunday, October 23, 2022.
The lawmaker made the revelation while speaking on roads that he has facilitated for Ikorodu while discussing with the residents of Eruwen.
He said that the Federal Government has paid the sum of N1billion for the project while he also assured that the Lagos State Government will fulfill its own counterpart funding as agreed about nine months.
“FG has released its funding for the Odogunyan Industrial Estate Road as pledged during the commissioning of the Timberly – Clark Manufacturing Plant. It has released N1billion”, Rep. Benson revealed.
“I am sure that Lagos State Government will release its own counterpart funding too”.
Prince Clement Egba, the Minister of State for Finance, Budget and National Planning, in his remarks at the event last year, started what led to the agreement when he called the attention of the government to the decadence state of the infrastructures in the industrial estate which he said does not conform with the investments.
He assured Gov. Babajide Sanwo – Olu of the FG’s counterpart funding if the Lagos State Government is ready to do same.
The Governor of Lagos, in his reaction to the charge by the Minister, took up the challenge.
The Minister at the commissioning had stated:
“Both the state and the federal governments benefit from this (the Industrial Estate). While the State government benefits from the Personal Income Taxes, at the federal level, we also benefit from the Company Income Taxes and I must also say that the infrastructures in this area have not grown in the same pace as the industries that are in this area”, Prince Egba said.
“I had a chat a while ago with His Excellency, the governor of Lagos State, as to what is the cost to construct a road and he mentioned N2.5billion.
“Mr Governor, since we both benefit from the area, if you commit to provide N1billion, I will commit the federal government to providing N1.5billion in the next budget, so that together, we can do it”, he charged.
