Abiodun seeks 70 per cent Papalanto-Ilaro road project completion by December 2025
Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State has appealed to the Dangote Group and the contractor handling the construction of the 100-kilometre Sagamu-Papalanto-Iro-Ilaro-Obelle road to expedite action on the road project.
The Governor asked the contractor to ensure that the road which is located in Ewekoro Local Government Area of the State is 70 per cent completed by the end of the year.
Abiodun made this known during an inspection of the level of work done on the road alongside the President of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote and other dignitaries from both sides.
The Governor added that the road is the State's East-West route that connects Ogun West Senatorial district to the East Senatorial District of the State as well as Lagos-Ibadan expressway, saying that Ota and Agbara Industrial Estates would benefit immensely from the reconstruction of the road.
He disclosed that the road when completed would compete with the Sagamu-Abeokuta expressway in terms of industrial and economic growth.
The Governor said that the availability of gas in the Sagamu-Papalanto-Iro-Ilaro-Obelle axis would also play a major role at making the corridor an option for many investors around the world.
He expressed his satisfaction at the level of work on the road, noting that the road is a dual carriage that would be constructed using a unique style of construction because it is an industrial path that will carry trucks of high capacities.
The Governor disclosed that the contractor would use stone base as stabilisation and then another layer of stone base before they start reinforced concreting on the road.
He stressed that the road when completed would add to the Gross Domestic Products of the state and create employment opportunities for millions of Ogun State citizens through business ventures that will berth in the corridor.
"We are here again on the Sagamu- Papalanto-Ilaro-Obelle road. This road is a 100 kilometer road and we are hoping that by the end of this year,this road should be near completion.
"You can see that this corridor is not developed now, but, by the time the road is completed, it will compete with the Sagamu-Abeokuta expressway because there is gas here with a shorter route for industries to site and distribute to the hinterland," he said.
Governor Abiodun described the commitment of Alhaji Dangote to the development of Ogun State and Nigeria as a mark of deep commitment and patriotism.
"Another mark of deep commitment, patriotism and corporate social responsibility that is exemplary and there was a lot of back and forth. The road was originally designed to be an asphalt paved road, but, Alhaji thought that for this road to serve Ogun State and Nigeria for as long as he anticipated, it has to be turned into a concrete road," he noted.
Earlier in his remarks, Alhaji Aliko Dangote noted that the road will open up the economy of the state, adding that the area will now become the new industrial zone of the state.
"I don't think you need to convince people to come and invest here in Ogun State. You know, the Governor has done a great job. This road is not only a passing road, it is a road that will open up the economy of the state. There would be a lot of factories because right now, there is accessibility, people can go in and out.
"This will be the new industrial zone of the state. It is not only having the road for people just to drive, it is also to create jobs and the growth of the economy of Ogun State and Nigeria.
"I think a lot of people are already living here. Their lives will change totally because they will now have a way of generating real income while I believe the state government will also allocate most of the land here to people who will now come and be productive. It is a land that will now create jobs by putting up factories," he said.
