Given that it will generate at least 40,000 jobs for both skilled and unskilled labourers, the recently approved Kajola dry port has been hailed by the Ogun State government as a game changer for the state’s economy.
In addition to assuring all parties involved that their interests had been taken into account, this statement also stated that the building of the dry port would increase the state’s internally generated revenue, lower transportation and transaction costs, and draw in a number of infrastructure and regional development projects.
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In a conversation with reporters in the state capital of Abeokuta, Hon. Olugbenga Dairo, the state commissioner for transportation, revealed this.
The government is committed to Ogun becoming Nigeria’s premier investment and business destination, according to Dairo, who stated that efforts have advanced to the point where the Dapo Abiodun administration’s vision for the planned dry port at Kajola, Papalanto in the Ewekoro Local Government Area of state, is becoming a reality.
He said that the federal government had approved the state government’s development of a dry port after identifying it as strategically important in the state’s Multimodal Transportation Master Plan.
“His Excellency, Governor Dapo Abiodun directed us to put together a strategic Multimodal Transportation Master Plan for Ogun State in 2021,” the commissioner stated, tracing the project’s beginnings.
Together with assistance from the UKFCDO and specialists from the esteemed Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), we accomplished this.
“We considered it essential to plan for an airport and a dry port since we were extremely aware of His Excellency’s objectives for the economic and industrial development for the state.
“Our congruent objective is to create a dry port that will receive cargo from Apapa and Tincan dry ports, and the airport is almost finished.
The good news is that we have permission from the federal government to proceed, and we are not waiting around for further procedures to make this a reality.
The proximity of the proposed site to the NRC narrow and standard gauge rail lines has been carefully evaluated. The cement plants of Lafarge and Dangote are located within its catchment region, and the ground is level and suitable for a dry port.
“We are in continuous contact with the Nigeria Shippers Council, the Federal Ministry of Transportation, and the ICRC. We also visited the Nigeria Railway Corporation in Oyingbo, Lagos, recently, and discussed future plans with the Nigeria Civil Defence and Commissioner of Police there.”
Dairo went on to say that Governor Abiodun is promoting international best practices to make Ogun State the best destination for investors because he is a private sector individual who has worked in various international institutions, understands best practices, and values a keen focus on policy development and project delivery.
