State and Local Govts | |
State and Local Govts | |
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Thursday, October 31, 2019 / 08.00PM / Ottoabasi Abasiekong
for Proshare WebTV / Header Image Credit: @OGSGofficial
Governors
Babajide Sanwoolu and Prince Dapo Abiodun, MFR, drew up a list of
benefits of a joint economic Commission between Lagos and Ogun states while
addressing the Organised Private Sector (OPS) at the October edition of the
Nigeria-South Africa Chamber of Commerce, NSACC.
At a panel
discussion moderated by Mr Foluso Phillips Chairman of Phillips Consulting
Group, a leading African professional services firm, both Governors agreed that
Lagos and Ogun were critical to national economic growth, and an effective
partnership between them would help drive sustainable regional and national
development.
Lagos is the
commercial centre of the country and the fifth largest economy in Africa, while
Ogun is currently emerging as the nations industrial hub.
Governor
Babajide Sanwoolu set the context for discussions by stating that the Federal
Government in 2005 tried to initiate a Lagos-Ogun Commission, but failed.
Sanwoolu was
optimistic that with Lagos and Ogun states now under the same political party,
the commission had great prospects of becoming a reality.
The Lagos
state Governor said the activities of the Commission would be
driven by the Deputy Governors and would look into critical areas like;
The
Governors commended the Federal Government for the recent "Border Closure" decision which has helped to rejuvenate the agricultural sector in terms of
domestic production.
Governor Dapo
Abiodun also noted the fact that the Commission would help ramp up
activities in the infrastructure space, as major roads that linked the two
states to other parts of the country and neighbouring countries, were in
deplorable conditions.
The Governors
informed the business community that efforts have been made through discussions
with the Federal Government, to explore partnerships to address and speed up
work on roads like the Lagos-Abeokuta road and the Ikorodu -Shagamu road.
Both Governors
believed that States should be allowed to rehabilitate designated federal
highways that affect the livelihood of citizens and increase the cost of doing
business.
Looking at the
prospects of improving the transportation network between the states, Governor
Sanwoolu identified the Epe to Ijebu Ode and Ebute Metta to Agbado rail
corridors as areas to explore and improve access with a view to ease commuting.
In the area
of public finance the Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, used
the occasion to commend his Lagos state counterpart, for prompt remittance of
taxes due to Ogun state.
On Education
both states singled out Edo State as a template for peer review to improve
learning and participation of pupils and students, by deploying technology.
Abiodun
also announced that a major Inland Terminal will be developed to help ease the
gridlock at the busiest Seaport in Nigeria, the Apapa Port in Lagos State.
Sanwoolu and Abiodun
both solicited the support of the private sector in actualizing their economic
strategies.
Chairman of
the occasion, and serial industrialist, Dr Oba Otudeko, Chairman Honeywell
Flour Mills, called for a pragmatic political approach from both state
Governors in the discharge of their duties.
He encouraged
them to focus on completing projects that they inherited from their
predecessors, which include infrastructure projects that will have far-reaching
socio-economic benefits for the citizens of their respective states.
The signing of
the agreement on the joint Commission between both states is expected in a few
days, with the private sector expecting that there will be legislation to
back up the Commission and institutionalizing the partnership.
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