The Member representing Oluyole Federal Constituency & Chairman House of Representative Committee on Diaspora, Hon. Tolulope Akande-Sadipe has appealed to Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State not to lose the Ibadan Inland Dry Port to Ogun State.
Akande-Sadipe, who was a Special Adviser on Projects and Public-Private Partnership to late Senator Abiola Ajimobi said that her sweat and the support of her late boss secured the Ibadan Inland Dry Port.
Revealing how the project was conceptualized by her, the lawmaker said, “The idea sprung up on a visit to Lagos to see my mother. The traffic from trucks queuing to get into the Apapa ports led to the brainwave that this could be another economic opportunity for Oyo State, which had an advantage based on its geographical position and the new train line from Lagos. Knowing that this would further stir up the economic revival in our beloved Oyo State. I approached the governor with the idea and he gave his consent to commence the leg work. I contacted Mr. Hassan Bello led Shippers Council through Mr. Anifowoshe, who was based in the Ibadan office in 2018 and extensive talks about decongesting Lagos by setting up an Inland Dry Port in Oyo began”.
“The rationale for Olorisha Oko was based on its location as the point where the first phase of the new train line from Lagos to the North passing through Ibadan would terminate. That way, containers could be shipped by train from Lagos ports to Ibadan and further on with the completion of other stages of the project, as is the case in developed Nations. I and my Bureau of Investment Promotions and Project Office team most especially Mr. Kunle Olusina with the support of our principal late Ajimobi worked tirelessly to make it a reality. I put so much effort into making the inland dry port a reality. My sweat and support from Ajimobi secured the Federal Government approval of the project during the administration of Ajimobi. I, therefore, appeal to the current PDP led state government not to play politics with the socio-economic development of Oyo State”, she added.
The lawmaker noted that the Inland Dry Port would bring about 24,000 direct new jobs and also attract new investors and big corporations to take advantage of the free trade zone adding, “We all know what that will mean to the youths of Oyo State – Job creation, both blue and white-collar”.
Akande-Sadipe further emphasised her worry about losing the project to Ogun State over the delays since the change of administration.
She urged the current administration to do more about road infrastructure to alleviate the worries of the increased traffic expected from the Port operation as it has not done enough in terms of road infrastructure, unlike the neighbouring state where Governor Dapo Abiodun, has embarked on and completed many road projects.
The project had gone far with the bidding closed with a successful selection of a concessionaire developer in line with Federal government laws and regulations governing Public-Private Partnership Procurement. Sequel to which the project was adjudged viable thus bankable and had been issued an OBC compliance certificate by the Infrastructure Concession and Regulatory Commission in line with the 2005 ICRC Act.
