Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has announced that work on the $7 billion Gateway Deep Sea Port and Ogun State Blue Marine Special Economic Zone will kick off in November. This is located in Ogun Waterside Local Government Area.
Abiodun shared this information while speaking to All Progressives Congress (APC) members in Ijebu East and Ijebu North Local Government Areas. This was just days after he signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with DP World MEA FZE in Paris, France, alongside President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The governor confirmed that the groundbreaking ceremony for the project will happen in November. He said construction would start right after that, with plans to finish the port within two and a half years. “By November, we will perform the groundbreaking and the construction will start immediately. In two and a half years, that port will almost be completed 100 per cent,” Abiodun said.
He explained that the project, in partnership with DP World, one of the top port operators globally, is a big chance to boost Ogun State’s maritime and economic growth. The governor noted that this port project has not been realized for more than 30 years, even though it has great potential. His administration is now focused on making it happen to attract more investments and speed up economic development.
“Governance is about vision and implementation,” he added. The project aims to make Ogun a key maritime center in Africa. “Ogun State will become the marine capital of Africa, the marine hub of West Africa. This means the largest ships in the world will first come to Ogun Waterside when they arrive in Africa.”
Abiodun thanked President Tinubu for his support, especially for being present during the MoU signing and confirming the Federal Government’s support for the investors. He also mentioned ongoing federal projects that will improve connections to Ogun East. This includes the rehabilitation of the Sagamu-Ijebu-Ode-Ore Road and the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.
The governor highlighted the wealth of mineral and energy resources in the senatorial district, especially the large bitumen deposits in Ijebu East. “Ijebu East all the way to Ondo State is what we call our Bitumen Belt, the largest deposit of bitumen in Sub-Saharan Africa. It is between Ijebu East, all the way to Ondo State,” he explained.
He also pointed out the crude oil resources found in other areas of the state, like Odogbolu. Abiodun stated that his administration will keep looking for ways to utilize the state’s natural resources for economic growth.
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