Kunle Adelabu
-As federal, state pledge yet to materialize a year after
The Ikorodu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI), has, again, charged the Lagos State Government over the state of the largest industrial estate in West Africa, asking that something fast should be done quickly in redeveloping it.
There have been several calls on the government to intervene by rehabilitating the roads in and around the estate and providing necessary facilities to bring imporrant economic hub back to life.
The charge was handed out to the government at the press conference organized to introduce the second Ikorodu Division Trade Fair (IKODIV), at the Boardroom of the Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH), on Tuesday.
The annual fair, which is scheduled to hold between March 26th and April 2nd, is being staged in collaboration with LASUSTECH and the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives, Lagos State
Sir (Engr.) Chief Olukayode Shoderu, President, President, ICCI, responding to our reporter’s question on the effort of the chamber in seeing to the redevelopment of the estate, especially its deplorable roads and collapsed infrastructures, said that the body is also deeply worried and has been in constant engagement with the government.
“We are equally concerned about the industrial estate, which is the largest in West Africa. We have been at it for the past two to three years. We have been talking with the government. It is not something we can do by ourselves, that is why we have engaged the government to do the necessary renovation work, but up till now, the government has not been able to do that. We will continue to put pressure on them”, the ICCI President said.
He pleaded with members of the fourth estate of the realm to assist in calling the government’s attention to the state of the important economic facility.
“And you, members of the media can also assist in that regard by letting the government know that the problem is there. Noises from here and there…. We are equally worried that the estate is not in a developmental position”, he solicited.
Chairman, IKODIV 2023 Trade Fair, Prince Seye Adedipe, also said that he is expecting the government to do something quick about the estate.
“Concerning this industrial estate in Odogunyan, I remember the Minister of Industry came one time and even made a pledge of big money for the place, but we all know that when it comes to getting government money out, it takes a long process and I am sure the process is still in place”, he said.
“I expect something to be done very soon at that Odogunyan, because there was a time that I was part of the team that visited the Governor with our immediate past president, where we presented a paper to the Governor on the state of the estate and we had a promise but that promise has not been fulfilled yet.
“We hope something will be done very soon, now that a new administration is coming in by May”, he added.
Former Head of the Due Process Unit in the Presidency, Emeritus Prof. Kunle Ade Wahab, made a passionate appeal to the media to assist in ensuring that the government is continually reminded of the state of the industrial estate.
“I will like to say is that you should help us emphasis on the rest of the country, the state of the industrial estate, because it has not been fully developed since created many years ago”.
THE IMPACT had reported that Lagos State and Federal Governments had in February 25, 2022, agreed to collaborate on the rehabilitation of the collapsed road networks at the Odogunyan Industrial Estate.
The road network, which has been in terrible state for many years, caught the attention of the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo – Olu, several members of the Federal Executive Council and other dignitaries when they came to the axis to commission the Kimber – Clark Manufacturing Plant.
Prince Clement Egba, Minister of State for Finance, Budget and National Planning, disturbed by the collapsed state of the road, gave the federal government’s commitment of N1.5billion and charge the state government to also provide a counterpart funding of N1billion for the rehabilitation, which the governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo – Olu, agreed to make available.
But in October last year, Rep. Babajimi Benson, the representative of the Ikorodu Federal Constituency who was also present during the commissioning of the plant, revealed during the kick –off of his ‘Listening Tour’ of his constituency, that the federal government has made available its pledge.
