The Ogun State governor, Dapo Abiodun, is set to turn the sod of the $800 million Special Agro-Processing Zone (SAPZ) to be sited at the Agro-Cargo Airport in Ilisan-Remo today.

The governor stated this himself during the Treasury Board Meeting, held at Obas Complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

According to him, the project which would be executed by Arise Integrated Company would be the biggest investment in Nigeria as it would provide between 15,000 to 20,000 jobs for the people.

He stated that the turning of sod, which would mark the beginning of the first phase of the multi-million dollars investment, would take place today, while construction of structures for the project would commence in the first week of December.

“By the grace of God, we are going to do the groundbreaking of the first Special Agro Processing Zone in the country, the very first. The first phase is a $400 million investment and it is going to be in two phases. This has never happened before in this country.

“Construction is going to start first week in December. I am aware that Nigeria Customs Service also wants to start construction immediately in the same aerotropolis.
“That place promises to employ between 15,000 and 20,000 people in the first phase,” Abiodun stated.
According to the governor, the siting of the project was an indication of how viable the airport would be on completion, expressing optimism that the Nigerian Air Force, the Customs Service, multi-nationals and investors that had indicated interest in the airport would soon follow suit.

Also,  at the same venue, the governor has expressed the readiness of his administration to resuscitate the moribund Gateway Hotel, Ota. He described the current state of the once viable hotel as an eyesore, saying something urgent must be done to address the situation.

Abiodun who decried the total abandonment of the hotel despite its strategic location, said his administration was poised to rehabilitate and bring it back to its former state, as demanded by the people of Ota, during the town hall meeting on the 2023 appropriation budget.

The state helmsman, however, expressed displeasure that the hotel which was once a pride of the state is now a den for criminals, directing the Ministry of Housing to include the total rehabilitation of the edifice in its budget proposal for necessary action.

olusola Bello