A former works and transport commissioner, Dr. Yunus Akintunde, has appealed to Governor Seyi Makinde, to do something urgent to ensure the state does not lose the inland dry port project to neighbouring Ogun.
Akintunde, who hails from Oyo town, spoke yesterday after consulting the leadership of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Oluyole local government over his 2023 senatorial ambition.
Like he had earlier done in Oyo East, AFIJIO and Atiba, Akintunde also made a donation of N2 million to Oluyole APC in addition to the N5,000 stipend to 20 aged people.
It would be recalled that the minister of transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, had visited the state last week to ascertain Oyo state’s readiness to work with the federal government to put infrastructure in place to ease pressure from Apapa through movement of cargo to the dry port in Ibadan via the Lagos-Ibadan rail line.
Explaining that the state is attracting over N500 billion worth of Investments with the dry port project, Akintunde urged the Makinde administration to see the project as a new wave of economic opportunities as there is no other time to consolidate the economic revolution started by his predecessor than now.
To serve the standard gauge rail which has gulped over $1.6 billion (N458bn), the planned Inland Dry Port is sited in Olorisa-oko, Akinyele local government, one of the 11 council areas of Oyo central senatorial Akintunde seeks to represent.
It would be recalled that the federal government, in collaboration with other critical stakeholders, had July 2020 approved N43.24 billion for the construction of the project.
Akintunde, in a statement by his media office, said the dry port and rail system offer a solid maritime trade advantages, advising Makinde to prioritize urban renewal, industrialization, agro-revolution and housing development.
“It is a good advantage for us. Our neighbouring Ogun has benefited a lot from Lagos. And that makes it one of the top states with solid internally generated revenue in the country. Information at my disposal indicates that Ogun is showing enthusiasm in the project. Apart from its proximity to Lagos, Ogun already has the railway wagon assembly plant in Kajola and has the land for the dry port too at Olodo end of Ogun State.
“It is a good thing that Oyo State negotiated 15 per cent equity in the project. I want to advise that we rather invest money rather than convert land and infrastructure into equity since the FG has said it is a statutory contribution. Many states, especially Kaduna state have done that.
“The gains are too numerous to mention here. Apart from the fact that it will help greatly in tackling our surging unemployment rate, our IGR would be in good stead.
“To prepare for this agricultural revolution should be seriously pursued. Construction of an industrial park along the corridors of the gauge rail and dry port won’t be a bad thing. The free trade zones would have been unlocked by that. Another advantage the state government and the people are expected to benefit are the real estate advantages that will spring up from this rail revolution and infrastructural development. It also provides an avenue to decongest the city as the government has the option of constructing new cities near the rail lines in form of massive low-cost housing projects with flexible mortgage options,” Akintunde submitted.
He said Ogun has, for more than a decade, solely enjoyed the opportunities Oyo is about to benefit. Ogun’s closeness to Lagos’ air and sea ports, Akintunde added, has led to the many industrial estates spread across Sango-Otta, Agbara, Mowe, Ibafo, Sagamu etc.
Earlier, Hon. Lekan Adeyemo, Rasaki Akilapa, Hon. Waheed Akinleye, Hon. Femi Abioye and Alhaji Kamo Adeoye, who took turn to speak, eulogized Akintunde for visiting them, adding that they were going to reciprocate the gesture when it is time.
Barr. Lowo Obisesan, who accompanied Akintunde, charged the party to support him, adding that he is eminently qualified.
