Business
Discovering an emerging location: As New Industries Berth Along Abeokuta – Sagamu – Interchange Corridor, Think Pelican Ecostay Apartments Now By Babatunde Adeyemo
Discovering an emerging location: As New Industries Berth Along Abeokuta – Sagamu – Interchange Corridor, Think Pelican Ecostay Apartments Now
By Babatunde Adeyemo
A new economic hub is emerging in Ogun, the Gateway State. It is happening along the corridor of Kobape – Siun – Sagamu interchange road. Multinational companies are springing up steadily on that stretch as investors continue to reckon Ogun State as their destination of choice.
The fact is well known that the Abeokuta- Sagamu Interchange road is the ceremonial route to the Gateway state capital, Ibara, Kuto, MKO Abiola Stadium, Oke Mosan, Laderin, Kobape, Siun to Sagamu interchange, which inturn, links the Lagos-Ibadan- Sagamu expressway, Ondo, Benin-Ore and by extension, the northern and South -Eastern parts of Nigeria.
On Tuesday, January 9, the Minister of Industry,Trade and Investment, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite and the Governor of Ogun State, Prince(Dr) Dapo Abiodun commissioned two new factories and extension of the Tropical General Investment Group (TGI), at the Sagamu Inter-change, Ogun State.
This 36 – kilometre corridor also hosts one of the vast government acquired lands, guided jealousy by the Ogun State Government, which according to the government’s Master Plan, the area is designed to be the emerging Dubai of Nigeria as it is expected and have began to harbour big industries, sky scrappers and the best of modern housing schemes.
It makes sense to project that with these industries being located along that stretch, it will trigger economic growth,throw up many job opportunities which will naturally drag people to gravitate towards the area.
This have began has multiple factories are established within 36 kilometres interchange corridor. such as the unfolding scenario will create increased demand for workers and managers. Other businesses such as real estate development then follow the factories to meet the pressing housing needs of the workers and foregn expertraits. This creates even more jobs and more demand for housing on this corridor withe almost 95 % of Government acquired lands.
Interestingly, one of the few modern estates around the 36 kilometre stretch Sagamu – Interchange corridor and free from government acquired lands is the Pelican Brief Estate, Pelican’s Ecostay apartments and the Pelican”s Greenish acres farm Estate, amongst other state government owned estates too. The corridor also hosts the largest brewery in West African, and some existing multinational companies. The Ogun State Agro Cargo Airport is just a few distance away from the axis.
The Pelican’s ranges of products on the This 36 – kilometre Siun-Kobape- Interchange corridor were conceived to be an eco – friendly setting, a serene ambience where men and nature would align to promote ‘good health and longevity,’ and away from the congestion of the Abeokuta metropolis.
The essence is to make Pelican’s Ecostay Apartments a zero carbon emission human habitation, a tourist attraction with special built lounge, recreation areas, special built club and a Gymn centre for the comfort of the calibre of clients that had keyed into the concept.
Interestingly, Pelican Brief Estate and Pelican Ecostay apartments have a FULL government approved layout. It has its own Master plan which provides for Green Areas and at the same time, an eco-friendly place called Pelican Ecostay apartments. It is conceived to offer comfort and healthy living. Already, about N10million naira have been earmarked for buying plants and tree seedlings in phases. The concept is that a seedling will be put in each plot and compound so that in the next two or three years, one can always have a serene ambience and zero carbon emission because in the estate. There will be no home power generator in any apartment. It is going to be 100% eco – friendly in compliance with ecostay, eco – friendly concept.
in it bid to also compliment the Ogun State’s Government’s efforts on lighting up the Interchange corridor, the management Pelican Valley Nigeria Limited have also earmarked a whooping sum of (#20m) twenty million naira to provide an industrial solar street lighting for over for kilometres of link roads, connecting there housing projects on the corridor, admist a strategic collaboration with the Ogun State police command for a possible siting of a police station.
The estate is not a product of happenstance. On the contrary, it was deliberately sited at that particular spot in Masa Kobape area of Abeokuta to give investors peace of mind, it is a place where man and nature will align to promote good health, and longevity and away from the congestion of Abeokuta metropolis. This is why it has become increasingly important that those who cherish a good health -promoting environment should key into the estates now and not delay any further.
One stricken feature about it is its proximity to strategic to key economic indicators in the state and neighbouring states. It is 45 minutes drive from Ikeja, Lagos and less than 20 minutes from Abeokuta’s Prof Wole Soyinka Train station . It is all encompassing and truly an emergence tourist attraction. The estate will host special built lounge, recreation areas, special built club and a Gymn centre. All these have been specified in the Master Plan of Ecostay apartments and the same is being extended to the Pelican Brief estate
Efforts are being regularly to make the setting as natural as possible. There is a Camel and some friendly birds in the estate. The Camel will enhance the movement of tourists.
The estate is well approved by the relevant government authority. The beauty of government approved layout estates is that in every layout of government approved estate, there is a portion mapped out for green areas, recreation, hospitals, worshipcenters and schools, it is compulsory and you can’t use that portion for any other purpose. Before government approved a layout, you must have a green area, you must have a place for recreation, you must have commercial area so that nobody goes building shops in front of his apartment to sell groundnut or coconut. Such will never happen in Pelican Brief or Pelican Ecostay Apartments because there is purposefully vouched out facility space for that. There is a commercial zone. There is going to be a 5 – storey building corporate headquarters there. One floor will house Oko Opo Foundation. One floor will be for the supervision of the estate.
The last floor will be for the second passion of the promoter, which is broadcasting as plans are underway to have a Radio Station because there is going to be a convergence of bundle of knowledge there. One is referring to Nigerians who have excelled in many endeavours and they want to retire to the place. The broadcasting station will tap into their wealth of experience by bringing them to handle one or two live programmes in the envisaged Radio Station. It is going to be the knowledge base of Ogun State, the tourist attraction and future of Ogun State. What else can ask for in an estate. This is definitely the time to think and invest in Pelican Brief Estate Pelican’s Ecostay Apartments and Pelican Green Acres Farm Estate at Kobape.
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Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurs have collectively created 1.5 million jobs and generated $4.2 billion in revenue — Over 2 million Africans lifted out of poverty.
The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), Africa’s leading philanthropy empowering entrepreneurs is set to announce the 11th cohort of the TEF Entrepreneurship Programme on Saturday, March 22, 2025.
The 2025 announcement comes at a critical time, as Africa’s entrepreneurship ecosystem faces funding constraints and global economic headwinds. TEF continues to provide much-needed support, empowering African entrepreneurs to transform their ideas into sustainable businesses and engines of economic growth.
Each selected Tony Elumelu Entrepreneur will receive $5,000 non-refundable seed capital, a world-class business training on TEFConnect, one-on-one mentorship, and access to global networks and investment opportunities. The selection process is being conducted by Ernst & Young, to ensure independent assessment.
The impact of the Tony Elumelu Foundation extends beyond funding. It is changing lives and shaping Africa’s future, as witnessed by beneficiaries of the catalytic TEF Entrepreneurship Programme.
Ahead of the upcoming announcement, Tony O. Elumelu, C.F.R., Founder of TEF and Group Chairman of Heirs Holdings, reiterates his unwavering belief in the potential of Africa’s entrepreneurs:
“I believe that Africa’s transformation will not be led by aid, but by empowering the next generation of African entrepreneurs—giving them the tools, the funding, the training, and the networks to build sustainable businesses that create jobs and drive economic growth.
Over the past decade, we have nurtured entrepreneurs from inception to success, scaling our impact across all 54 African countries. We have provided capital and also developed a robust monitoring and evaluation framework that allows us to track the progress of our entrepreneurs and measure their contributions to their communities and economies.
No other organisation is implementing entrepreneurship development at this scale across Africa. We have learned, we have refined, and we continue to improve, ensuring that African entrepreneurs—women and men—are at the forefront of solving our continent’s challenges and creating wealth for themselves and their communities. Entrepreneurship is the key to Africa’s prosperity. I wish the 2025 cohort of Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurs success, as they chase their ambitions, and play their part in Africa’s transformation.”
The Tony Elumelu Foundation is the leading philanthropy empowering a new generation of African entrepreneurs, driving poverty eradication, catalysing job creation across all 54 African countries and ensuring inclusive economic empowerment.
Since the launch of the Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme in 2015, TEF has lifted over 2 million Africans out of poverty, provided 2.5 million young Africans with access to training on TEFConnect, and disbursed more than $100millon in direct funding to thousands of African entrepreneurs who have gone on to create over 1.5 million direct and indirect jobs and generate over $4.2 billion in revenue.
For more details on the Tony Elumelu Foundation’s impact visit our Impact Page, African Success Stories Page, and Annual Report Page.
For Media Inquiries: media@tonyelumelufoundation.org
Tony Elumelu Entrepreneur Testimonials from Previous Years:
“I started my agribusiness with nothing but an idea. TEF changed everything. With the funding, training, and mentorship, I have now expanded across three countries and employ 25 people.”
– Fatima Diallo, Senegal, Agritech Entrepreneur
“As a woman in the fintech industry, it was difficult to secure funding. TEF not only provided me with capital but also the confidence and skills to build a business that is now attracting international investors.”
– Mary Okeke, Nigeria, Fintech Founder
“The TEF Entrepreneurship Programme helped me commercialise my clean energy innovation. Today, we provide solar solutions to over 50,000 homes in rural Tanzania.”
– Juma Nyerere, Tanzania, Renewable Energy Entrepreneur
For more details on the Tony Elumelu Foundation’s impact visit our Impact Page, African Success Stories Page, and Annual Report Page.
For Media Inquiries: media@tonyelumelufoundation.org
Business
Federal Government Moves to Slash Sky-High Airfares as Minister Keyamo Exposes Airline Tactics
Federal Government Moves to Slash Sky-High Airfares as Minister Keyamo Exposes Airline Tactics
The Federal Government, through the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has vowed to tackle the exorbitant cost of air tickets for both domestic and international flights, revealing major efforts to cut costs, enhance airport safety, and address airline pricing manipulations.
Speaking at the Ministerial Press Briefing in Abuja on Thursday, Keyamo exposed a series of economic and policy-based factors that have led to the skyrocketing price of flight tickets, making air travel increasingly unaffordable for Nigerians.
Why Are Airfares So Expensive? The Inside Story
Keyamo broke down the root causes of excessive ticket pricing, which include:
Limited access to affordable aircraft leasing, forcing Nigerian airlines to either lease aircraft at exorbitant rates or buy aircraft outright—a cost that ultimately burdens passengers. Foreign airlines deliberately inflating ticket prices for Nigerian travelers due to fears of trapped funds and currency depreciation. Heavy government-imposed airport taxes, which are among the highest in Africa, further pushing up fares.
Foreign Airlines Caught in the Act? Keyamo Exposes Pricing Tricks
In a shocking revelation, Keyamo unveiled how foreign airlines had been exploiting Nigerian travelers by restricting them to only the highest-priced tickets.
“We called international airlines and asked what they used to do. They said if you want to buy international tickets, you will see business class Z, grade J, different grades, but it’s all the same. One can be N2 million cheaper than the other. Those ones, they opened for countries where they could get their money immediately. But they now opened only the high fare for Nigerian passengers,” he disclosed.
He explained that because foreign airlines feared currency depreciation, they set high fares in anticipation of inflation affecting their trapped funds.
“They said because they were taking into account inflationary rates of the money that will be trapped, they didn’t know when they would get it back. So instead of selling a ticket for N2 million or N3 million, they sold it for N7 million. Meanwhile, Ghana had lower ticket prices,” he added.
Government’s Response: No More Exploitation!
The government, according to Keyamo, is actively engaging foreign airlines to adjust their pricing in line with the recently cleared backlog of trapped funds.
“President Bola Tinubu, being very smart on this, cleared that first. But even after clearing the backlog, they were still enjoying the high fares. So we told them, ‘No, you cannot continue to do this. The excuse is gone. Nigerian passengers must now get fair pricing like other countries.’”
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) is leading discussions with these airlines to force a price adjustment, ensuring that Nigerians no longer face inflated airfares.
Airport Taxes: Another Major Culprit
Keyamo acknowledged that Nigeria’s airport taxes are among the highest in Africa, further worsening ticket prices. However, he emphasized that reducing these taxes is not solely within his power, as it requires collaboration with the Ministry of Finance.
“The Nigerian Airspace Management Authority and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria are reviewing these charges, but I cannot singlehandedly reduce them. It involves the Minister of Finance,” he clarified.
He stressed that airlines pass these high taxes directly to passengers, further inflating ticket costs.
What Lies Ahead? Promises of Cheaper Flights Soon
Keyamo assured Nigerians that with ongoing government interventions—including negotiations with foreign airlines, new aircraft leasing agreements, and possible tax reductions—airfares will soon become more affordable.
“We are addressing these issues. The results will soon be visible with the Cape Town Convention and the Dublin Conference. The deals are coming in, and we will see the results soon,” he promised.
Final Verdict: Relief in Sight or Another Empty Promise?
While the Federal Government’s efforts signal hope for Nigerian travelers, many remain skeptical about whether these promises will translate into real, affordable ticket prices. Will Keyamo’s intervention finally ground the exploitative pricing system, or will passengers continue to pay the price for policy failures? Nigerians are watching closely.
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