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Abiodun advocates self-help projects as catalyst for community, state development
Abiodun advocates self-help projects as catalyst for community, state development
The Ogun State governor, Dapo Abiodun, has hinted that the state would experience more development if communities embark on self-help projects.
Abiodun dropped this hint at the 45th Anniversary of Isanbi Day celebration held on Saturday at Isanbi High School, Ilisan-Remo, Ikenne Local Government Area of the state.
Speaking further at the event with the theme, “Repositioning Ilisan for Economic Gains”, the governor Abiodun noted that the development of the state is a responsibility of everyone, as no government can do it alone.
“I want to assure you all that, as a government, we will continue to support all genuine efforts by individuals and groups that are directed at improving the cultural heritage and the lives of our people in general.
“We appreciate the fact that no government has all the necessary funds it requires for the development of the society and its people. For this reason, we will continue to welcome and appreciate sincere contributions and recommendations that will help develop our state and improve the socio-economic life of our dear people”, he noted.
Abiodun stated that his administration would continue to conduct the business of governance without being distracted.
He added that he would continue to run the government with a fear of God to ensure free, fair and a just society, with view to promoting fairness to all irrespective of age, gender, religious or political affiliation or their geographical location.
“Let me reiterate that through transparent public finance management which provides an atmosphere that guarantees a more prosperous life for our people. Let me reiterate that we shall continue to uphold all the tenets of Good Governance by being accountable, transparent, responsive, consensus oriented, inclusive, participatory, just, fair and equitable”, he pointed out
The governor, however, stated that this year’s edition of Isanbi Day was important as it would precede the landing and take-off of the first aircraft in the town where the first international Agro Cargo Airport is being built, adding that the town would be a beehive of activities because of a well-planned aerotropolis.
“At this airport city, there is an agro processing centre; an international testing facility for agric produce to be managed in conjunction with the African Development Bank, where every agricultural produce that goes out of Nigeria will first be certified as complying with international standards before being transported out of the country.
“Already, the Nigeria Air Force, the Nigeria Customs Service and so many other private investors are jostling for presence, to become part of the airport city. So, be ready to accommodate at least a 25,000 workforce and members of their families that will join us in this town for the celebration of next year’s Isanbi”, the governor said.
He assured of prompt completion of the Ilishan-Ago-Iwoye road in the next couple of months, saying “the road not only runs through and links three local government areas of jebu North, Ikenne and Odogbolu, but leads to the Agro-Cargo Airport; the Olabisi Onabanjo University in Ago Iwoye; and, the link road to the South East and other arterial roads that link Lagos and the hinterland of the country makes it an economic imperative”.
“I can imagine the volume of trade and socio-economic benefits this road will unleash once completed. No doubt, this road will improve the quality of life, living and will advance commerce and other socio-economic activities in the state. Our agricultural development programme is on course. Ilishan will begin to see a practical demonstration of that as soon as the Agro-Cargo airport takes off”, he assured.
The governor, who noted that every Isanbi Day celebration comes with great improvements on the previous ones, said that “the Day is an attestation to the economic, historical and spiritual antecedents of the great people of the kingdom”.
He observed that the annual event would help in projecting the rich cultural values and norms of the Ilishan people and by extension, Remoland and Ogun State as a whole just as the festival would help in reminding the people their place in history, origin, as an essential component for stimulating communal understanding, love and unity, and for steady progress, peace and development of the larger community.
The Odofin of Ilisan, Oba Mojeed Sonuga, in his speech, appreciated all sons and daughters for their contributions towards the development of the town.
He called on those who have been honoured with chieftaincy titles to redouble their efforts to ensure that the socio-economic well-being of the town is upscaled.
The chairman of the 2022 Isanbi Day Planning Committee, Chief Diran Awotide, described Illisan-Remo as a town blessed with economic potentials and inhabited with lovable people that play host to a university and the state’s Agro-Cargo Airport, calling on the indigenes to work together to harness the town’s potentials for the good of all.
At least 23 people were killed in a series of suspected suicide bombings, police in Nigeria’s northeastern city of Maiduguri said on Tuesday.
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More than 100 other people were injured in the blasts that took place on Monday evening in the capital of Nigeria’s restive Borno state.
No group has claimed responsibility for the suspected attacks.
The deadly blasts come after a military post was attacked overnight Sunday to Monday, which authorities blamed on suspected Islamist militants.
This sad incident is coming barely two weeks after Primate Elijah Ayodele, the Leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church specifically warned against attacks in some states. He mentioned these states while calling on security operatives to pay close attention to them.
These were his words:
“Another attack is coming up in these following states where the military must watch carefully and intelligently; Kano, Kaduna, Zamfara, Kebbi, Niger, Borno, Kwara and Kogi state. They want to do a deadly attack, it’s preventable but it depends on how they will handle it. I have told you about the danger coming up.”
@primateayodele
Unfortunately, some of our military agencies don’t believe spiritual intelligence can save the country from so much danger hence, their neglect of this prophetic warning but now, it has been fulfilled with the miliary losing credibility by the day while Primate Ayodele continues to gain momentum.
Likewise, At least 26 passengers and crew sustained varying degrees of injuries on Monday following an accident involving the Kaduna–Abuja train, according to the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC).
Opeifa explained that the train departed Rigasa in Kaduna at 7:15 a.m. and was approaching Asham station around 9:16 a.m. when a loud bang was heard after the power car and trailing locomotive collided with one of the passenger coaches.
In July 2025, Primate Ayodele asked nigerians to pray not to see train mishap on the Kaduna-Abuja route.
@primateayodele #nigeriantiktok🇳🇬 #fulfillment #train #abuja #primateayodele
“Let’s pray not to see train mishap in Abuja-Kaduna, Kaduna-Abuja route.”
This has also been fulfilled.
The project ends decades search for investors, boosts Nigeria’s blue economy
By Prince Adeyemi Shonibare
Nigeria’s maritime sector is set for a major transformation following a landmark agreement involving the world’s largest container shipping company, Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), which has secured a 45-year concession to build, manage and operate a modern container terminal at Snake Island Port in Lagos.
The project, to be developed in partnership with Nigerdock, marks one of the most significant private sector investments in Nigeria’s port infrastructure in recent decades and is expected to strengthen the country’s role as a major maritime gateway in West and Central Africa.
For Nigeria, the agreement brings to close decades of efforts to attract large-scale investors to develop Snake Island Port, a strategically located maritime asset in Lagos.
Long-standing concession history
Snake Island’s maritime facilities date back several decades. In 1992, the Federal Government granted a 99-year concession for the island’s port and industrial facilities to Nigerdock, a major maritime engineering and logistics company.
Nigerdock was later privatised and is currently operated by the Jagal Group owned by Nigerian industrialist Maher Jarmakani.
Over the years, the Island Container Terminal fell into disrepair, requiring major rehabilitation and modernization to meet modern global shipping standards.
The new partnership with MSC is expected to transform the port into a state-of-the-art container handling facility capable of attracting larger vessels and increasing Nigeria’s cargo throughput capacity.
Buhari administration approved the project.
The investment framework for the Snake Island development was approved in May 2023 by the Federal Executive Council under then President Muhammadu Buhari.
The approval authorised total private investment of approximately $974.1 million for the project under a Public-Private Partnership structure, including the 45-year concession period.
At the same time, the Federal Government also approved two other major maritime infrastructure projects:
• Development of the Ondo Multipurpose Port in Ilaje, Ondo State, with $1.48 billion in private investment and a 50-year concession.
• Expansion and development of the Burutu Sea Port in Delta State, involving $1.2 billion in private investment and a 40-year concession.
These projects form part of Nigeria’s broader effort to develop its blue economy and expand maritime trade capacity.
Construction partners
Engineering and construction of the Snake Island container terminal will be handled by:
• ITB Nigeria Limited
• DEME Group
ITB Nigeria Limited is part of the Chagoury Group and owned by the Chagoury family, while DEME Group is a globally recognised Belgian marine engineering and dredging company with extensive experience in port construction.
MSC profile
Founded in 1970 by Italian shipping entrepreneur Gianluigi Aponte and his wife Rafaela Aponte-Diamant, MSC has grown from a single cargo vessel into the largest container shipping company in the world.
Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, the company operates in more than 155 countries and serves over 500 ports worldwide, with a fleet of roughly 900 container ships and over 200,000 employees globally.
The MSC Group also operates major logistics and maritime businesses including inland logistics through Medlog, cruise tourism through MSC Cruises, and port terminal operations across several continents.
According to Forbes, the estimated net worth of MSC founder Gianluigi Aponte is about $43.9 billion as of February 2026, placing him among the world’s richest shipping magnates. The company remains privately owned by the Aponte family, with both founders holding equal ownership stakes.
Management comments
Speaking on the development, MSC Group President Diego Aponte said the company is committed to strengthening its operations in Nigeria and across Africa.
“We are proud to expand our presence in Nigeria through this important infrastructure project. The Snake Island terminal will enhance service delivery and improve port efficiency for our customers and partners in the region,”
Chief Executive Officer of Nigerdock, Maher Jarmakani, described the agreement as a major milestone for the Nigerian maritime sector.
“We are delighted to partner with MSC in developing a world-class container terminal that will enhance Nigeria’s logistics capabilities and support economic growth,” he said.
Economic impact
Industry analysts say the project could significantly strengthen Nigeria’s maritime economy by expanding cargo handling capacity, reducing congestion at Lagos ports and attracting additional international shipping traffic.
The development is also expected to create thousands of direct and indirect jobs across maritime operations, logistics, transport services and port-related commercial activities.
Infrastructure expansion
Beyond the port development, plans are also underway for Nigeria’s first underwater tunnel, linking Ahmadu Bello Way in Victoria Island through Snake Island and connecting the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway with the Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway corridor through Badagry.
The tunnel project is expected to significantly improve freight movement and road connectivity between Lagos ports and national transport networks.
Strategic milestone
With the entry of MSC into the Snake Island development, industry observers say Nigeria is taking a significant step toward modernizing its maritime infrastructure and positioning itself as a regional hub for global shipping and trade.
For a project that has waited for decades for major international investors, the Snake Island concession represents a turning point in Nigeria’s port development strategy and a strong signal of global confidence in the country’s maritime future.
By Prince Adeyemi Shonibare
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