Dapo Abiodun docks another legacy project as Gateway Inland Dry Seaport berths in Ogun
By TUNDE OLADUNJOYE

In his stead of foresighted execution of life impacting legacy projects in Ogun State, the state Governor , Prince Dapo Abiodun will on Friday host the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Oyetola who will perform the around breaking ceremony of the Gateway Inland Dry Port, at Itori, Ewekoro Local Government.

Coming, on the heels of the Gateway Agro Cargo Airport situated at Ilisan-Iperu, and the Olokola Deep Sea Port to be soon inaugurated, the new Gateway Inland Dey Port, another first of its kind in the history of the gateway state, Dapo Abiodun comes across not only as a silent achiever, but also as a leader with futuristic outlook, who thinks about positively impacting the present and future generations of the state in all ramifications.

After the inauguration note Lagos/Ogun Joint Development Commission, the hardworking Ogun helmsman, has been walking his talk, capitalising on the potentials of the of Ogun State to Lagos State, the financial and commercial centre of Nigeria.

The Dapo Abiodun Administration has meticulously initiated and assiduously promoted business friendly industrial, and socio economic policies and enhanced the ease of doing business, coupled with the institutional framework such as the Office of Public Private Partnership, Business Roundtable with Private Sector, Ogun State Agency for Business Promotion and Facilitation, are invigorated Ogun Inland Revenue Service and the digitalized Bureau of Lands and other agencies of the government; has served to attract several global concerns and businesses to the State.

The activities of the supportive agencies have culminated into millions of dollars flowing into Nigeria through the gateway state. According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), in its recent report on foreign investment inflows, only six states and the federal capital territory out of the thirty seven states were able to attract foreign direct investment between 2023 and 2024. Ogun state is one of the six states and it attracted, just within a year, a whopping sum of about N41 billion ($25 million).
In response to the agricultural programme of the government leading to processing zone in partnership with the Africa Development Bank, numerous medium scale industry, especially those associated with the agricultural production and processing sector are also being established in large numbers.
The geographical location of the Ogun State as a veritable link to the north and eastern regions of the country and same to the West Africa sub-region, earning it the appellation of the “gateway state” has placed Ogun State on a critical economic pedestal that it cannot be ignored. Also scale of ongoing industrial activities in the state and its advantageous accessibility has seen the citing of the first African Quality Assurance Centre in Ogun State.
Not a few people wondered when in February 2020, the governor created the Ministry of Transportation, for the first time in the history of Ogun State. Some cynics felt, though erroneously, that it was a waste of funds. Not deterred, Governor Abiodun, a goal-getter, known for tenacity of purpose, went ahead to persuade an ogun indigene making exploits abroad back home to head the new ministry. Engineer Olugbenga Dairo, a Nairobi based Transportation Consultant to the European Union, working with the Kenyan Government, was appointed as the first ever Commissioner for Transportation in Ogun State. The state is no doubt, the better for it; with series of policies and projects, including the new Deep Sea Port, under the leadership of Prince Dapo Abiodun.
The Ogun State Strategic Multi Modal Transport Master Plan therefore, identifies the need for effective logistics and transport infrastructure and services across the state, recognizing that shipping services and movement of goods play an important role in global trade and commerce, the Gateway Inland Dry Port (GIDP) and other strategic transportation infrastructure across the provide the needed synergy for rapid economic growth, employment generation and prosperity.
The GIDP is to be situated in a new/planned development area to be known as ‘Dry Port City’ (DPC), will include mixed developments of residences, logistics infrastructure, complimentary commercial and industrial developments and new multi-modal transportation infrastructure.
The GIDP and Dry Port City (DPC) are key to sustaining Ogun State’s rapid industrial growth, addressing increased urbanization as well as supporting national efforts to ease the congestion at Apapa/Tin Can ports, notorious for traffic bottle necks; and reducing the waiting time for cargo handling and storage experienced by industry.
The GIDP and DPC are strategically positioned at the intersection of the Lagos to Ibadan Standard Gauge Railway and the proposed East-West Railway Corridor connecting Lagos to the east via Kajola. The site of the GIDP and DPC is also connected to the national highway network being accessible via the Lagos – Abeokuta Highway and the Sagamu to Benin and Sagamu to Lagos Highways via the Papalanto to Sagamu Interchange Road.
The GIDP and DPC development has adopted the state Public-Private Partnership policy as basis for its delivery, operations, maintenance and management.
The design of the GIDP is spread over an area of 499 Ha for Phase 1 and 100 Ha for a subsequent phase. The site will be composed of the following essential land uses: Railway Siding Area, Container Freight Station and Container Depot Area, Warehouses and Bonded Warehouses, Mineral Yard, Truck Parking, Specialized Industrial Zone, Supporting Facilities and Utilities, Internal Road Network, Green Areas.
The achievements of the Dapo Abiodun Administration are no doubt source of envy to his opponents and the actualization of yet another legacy project, adds to the pains of the nay-sayers.However, regardless of tantrums from critics, Dapo Abiodun may stridently be on the way of breaking the jinx of non-performance by second term governors.

Hon. Anthony Ojo’s Medical Outreach in Ewhohimi, Edo Central attracts stakeholders’ attention

The people of Ewhohimi in Edo Central Senatorial District, Edo State have applauded Senatorial contestant, Hon. Anthony Ojo for his impressive free medical outreach.

During the outreach which was held recently, participants had free tests on Blood Pressure, sugar level and others, and also received free drugs from the medical experts who were on ground.

According to Hon Ojo, since he and Senator Okpebholo share the same political ideology and dream, the free medical outreach is part of his own way of contributing to the governor-elect’s agenda for the people of Edo.

He noted that the medical outreach was open to all and sundry, irrespective of political affiliations, tribe or religion, just as Senator Okpebholo has promised to run an all inclusive government.

Hon Ojo is one of the key organic supporters of the Edo State governor-elect, Senator Monday Okpebholo. His ‘One Good Turn Deserves Another’ movement was instrumental to Okpebholo’s election as a Senator, and now as a governor.

Ojo is hopeful to take the baton robust legislation from Senator Monday Okpebholo and to sustain the facelift and development of the Edo Central Senatorial District achieved by Senator Monday Okpebholo, the outgoing Senator of the zone and now the Governor-lect of the Heart Beat of the Nation, Edo State.

Nigerian Youths Need One Another

I must be frank with all sincerity to declare weakness of the youths to as how it has contributed to ugly situation of Nigeria at the moment – because, even as we have devilish political leaders piloting our economic atmosphere, using our citizens especially our youths as weapons is their major political pillar. Some of us are the manipulative instruments to their enthronement. How do they manufacture candidates for primary elections, how do they manufacture thugs covering and securing their ballot papers, how do they manufacture securities in their offices and homes, how do they manufacture their economic experts, how do they gather strength to move themselves and their properties around and many more not mentioned? Our youths need to answer this question and if found guilty, must have to learn disadvantages these acts have done to our economy.

The level of inhumanity that has enveloped our leaders wouldn’t allow them help youths having their internal freedom. Yes, I call it internal freedom, because, it is globally known that Nigeria is an independent nation, yet, our leaders have killed spirit of independence among ordinary citizens, whereas, the lives of our youths lie in the hands of our political and religious leaders. This is in connection of reviewing how the religious, educational and historical lives of our youths are sure handlers of these leaders. We can see how our male youths are used as political tools, we see how our ignorant youths are used as religious tools, we see how our female youths are used as immoral tools and our intelligent youths are used as manipulative tools. This is indeed a great concern to work on by our youths. Their refusal to these lifestyles is the beginning of their liberation. Without refusing this, I fear there wouldn’t be chances for effectual growths of the nation. Because, if politics, religion, education and morality that are real germs of societal transformation are political or politically motivated, every effort to make positive impacts, growths and developments of a nation have gone to grave.

While betraying is a great curse on developments, some of Nigerian youths have extremely exposed themselves to this deadly disease. While correcting is the smoothest way for advancement, some of our youths have always frowned at it because of levels of correctors and correctees, and other flimsy and unadulterated reasons. While making time for legalities is the best approach to achieve resounding victories, some of our youths have abandoned that and take otherwise simply for factors of time and results. While listening and filtering ideas for monumental transformations are the best, some of our youths have rather embraced augmentative mechanisms and pride. While it is best to practice before performance, some of our youths have neglected this and has caused a lot of irregularities in the society whereas, in some occasions, they commit suicide as relating their imperfectionism towards certain things – the real great instigator of unpreparedness and ignorance. While ideas and team work is the best way for political approach by the visionaries, some of our youths never believe in visionaries that don’t have money.

Instead of our youths to shift focus from real negative instigators of life such as lies, jealousy, unconstructive criticisms, extravagant spending without earnings, living above personal level, but to focus on building team, political structure, skills, knowledge and understanding, they are spending their precious time jumping from one social disorder to another. Instead of our youths to cultivate spirit of good labour for skill acquisition, knowledge and handwork for legal jobs and works, they are busy grooming themselves for in illegalities which are capable of jeopardizing their future career, work and jobs – these wouldn’t allow the elders to give them their political inheritance.

The continuous political-blame-games by politicians in Nigeria and the economic interpretations and misinterpretations amongst our elites are seriously dragging us to eternal lost. Our youths continue to give one another accolades for knowing more than the ruling class simply for the ways our political leaders have projected their doings to deceive youths and to create unnecessary topics to kill their precious time and conscience, yet the youths have refused to learn how these political leaders enveloped their secret rooms with powerful books and exercises that the youths haven’t thought about. We see how our judiciary has no morals in discharging their duties even as they know their position in the fate of citizenry. These and many more are issues of great concern in this country.

It is quite unfortunate that few of our intellectuals have employed ‘intellectual twist’ in praising undemocratic governance and economic depreciation of president Tinubu administration. While Reno Omokri is a knowledge wizard, to Nigeria at the moment, his likes is becoming vulnerable in the course of humanistic psychology. My taught is not coming to emphasize a degree of blamed game in current political atmosphere of our dear Nigeria simply for sake of the hard-heartedness of our political leaders.

I always wonder why our youths continue to deceive themselves ignorantly, indirectly and directly because of poor mental work. This is as a result to how our youths thought they are wiser and knowledgeable to these old politicians whereas, these men continue to rule and continue to use the youths against one another. Yet, the youths continue to dwell in continuum ignoramus in regards to their blind adoption of knowing more than the ruling class in a country where the ruling class are using professors and experts in other fields to achieve their goals.

Merely our youths get to understand reasons fair treatment is not given amongst one another and they have talked less of that rather, to indulge in crusade of taking over without plans, maturity and understanding. Our youths have embraced and always deployed spirit of augmentative mechanisms which have caused damage on their social lives and political integrations – a very poor habit that could be cultivated by people of good services. Singularly, this act has robbed them of their societal spaces.

Our political class has seriously damaged mental progressions of our youths regarding unsolicited approaches towards their pressing needs and demands. How fast and in totality our youths succumb to defend the magnitude of crimes orchestrated and enterprised by our political leaders is a fearful thing. How much more they continue to praise them for little they spent for them on fruitless and meaningless things is the unmatchable failure of our youths – in the process of taking their position.

Our rights activists such as Deji Adeyanju, Aishat Yesufu, Dele Farotimi should be taken seriously as their advocacies are carried by touches of humanity. Aside all odds, their related political ideologies and interrelated context of activisms have and are demanding appropriate calls for good governance and economic impact. It is on that note; their sincerity must be available for use of all. Our youths must join hands with them and few others not aforementioned to make good narrative of the nation. They should organize conferences, workshops and seminars and invite them to talk on ways forward. Immediate relationship must be created between these calibers of Nigerians and as many of the unbiased and well-meaning youths. This would help a lot in the middle of this reckless Tinubu administration.

Now that president Tinubu has drowned anarchy into governance, every corner of his leadership is geared towards achieving dictatorial covers and as such, has corrupted scores of Nigerian youths and intellectuals following corrupted practices and enterprises established between them for personal gains. Much more to this, they have become true instruments of destroying national values especially in their mission to deceive the poor or average minded Nigerians.

The severe attention of corruptions, briberies, insecurities, kidnappings, suicide, hardships and the host alike that have killed and buried growths and developments of our dear Nigeria have been abandoned as national problems, and in doing so, lacks national attention – than attractive, yet for personal growths of some of our biased and demeaning political content influencers or commentators are always adopted as national attention by most of our youths who are social slaves on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Tiktok. This is a rising concern for abrupt confrontation before it becomes a norm and dogma to be passed through other generations of Nigerian youths – hence, if promoted would give birth to lustful generations of Nigeria. This issue must be tackled now that we can still see light of the day. Because, before the end of Tinubu’s first tenure, and if probably given another tenure, we have no country to defend just as we have no one to defend in the country anymore following heavy corruptions in the aspect of the leaders, and hardships in the aspect of the ordinary citizens.

Idegu Ojonugwa Shadrach is a Nigerian author, activist and journalist.