Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun has appealed to the President of Dangote Group and the contractor handling the construction of the 100-kilometre Sagamu-Papalanto-Iro-Ilaro-Obelle road in Ewekoro local government area of the state to expedite action on the road.
He said they should ensure that the road is 70% completed by the end of the year.
The governor added that the road was the state’s East-West route that connects Ogun West Senatorial district to the East Senatorial District of the state as well as Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
He said that Ota and Agbara Industrial Estates would benefit immensely from the reconstruction of the road.
Abiodun made the plead during an inspection of the level of work done on the road alongside the president of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, and other dignitaries from both sides.
He disclosed that the road, when completed would compete with the Sagamu-Abeokuta Expressway in terms of industrial and economic growth.
The governor said that the availability of gas in the Sagamu-Papalanto-Iro-Ilaro-Obelle axis would also play a major role at making the corridor an option for many investors around the world.
He expressed his satisfaction at the level of work on the road, noting that the road was a dual carriage that would be constructed using a unique style of construction because it was an industrial path that would carry trucks of high capacities.
The governor disclosed that the contractor would use stone base as stabilisation and then another layer of stone base before they start reinforced concreting on the road.
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He stressed that the road when completed would add to the Gross Domestic Products of the state and create employment opportunities for millions of Ogun State citizens through business ventures that would berth in the corridor.
“We are here again on the Sagamu-Papalanto-Ilaro-Obelle road. This road is a 100 kilometer road and we are hoping that by the end of this year, this road should be near completion.
“You can see that this corridor is not developed now, but, by the time the road is completed, it will compete with the Sagamu-Abeokuta expressway because there is gas here with a shorter route for industries to site and distribute to the hinterland,” he said.
Earlier in his remarks, Alhaji Aliko Dangote noted that the road would open up the economy of the state, adding that the area would become the new industrial zone of the state.
“I don’t think you need to convince people to come and invest here in Ogun State. You know, the governor has done a great job. This road is not only a passing road, it is a road that will open up the economy of the state. There would be a lot of factories because right now, there is accessibility, people can go in and out.
“This will be the new industrial zone of the state. It is not only having the road for people just to drive, it is also to create jobs and the growth of the economy of Ogun State and Nigeria.
“I think a lot of people are already living here. Their lives will change totally because they will now have a way of generating real income while I believe the state government will also allocate most of the land here to people who will now come and be productive. It is a land that will now create jobs by putting up factories,” he said.
Meanwhile, Governor Abiodun has disclosed that with the impending completion of the $700 million Dangote Cement plant in Itori, Ewekoro Local Government area of the state in 2026, the state is set to become the largest producer of cement in the country, with a total production of 24 million tons.
