Senator Adeola promises to develop Ogun-Lagos border towns, mulls 30 year development plan

The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State, Senator Solomon Adeola, has promised to develop border communities between Ogun and Lagos State, saying his administration will prioritise the harnessing of their economic potential.

Adeola, who is representing Ogun West in the National Assembly, said this when he met with members of the Ogun-Lagos Border Towns Development Association in Abeokuta.

The senator, popularly known as Yayi, said he requested the meeting after reviewing the association’s development document, which he described as relevant to his vision for the state.

He said the document would serve as an input into the comprehensive development framework being prepared for the state, particularly in addressing infrastructural deficits, boundary disputes and pressure on housing, roads, markets, schools and healthcare facilities in border communities.

Speaking at the meeting, a leader of the association, Dr. Boye, said OGLABOT was formed by residents, business owners and stakeholders to address challenges facing communities along Ogun borders with Lagos.

Boye said the association conducted extensive consultations with residents to identify the challenges and opportunities in the communities.

He listed the untapped potential of Tongeji Island, the need for bridges in parts of Ogun Central and the need to provide infrastructure in densely populated areas where residents hardly feel government presence.

Also speaking, Mr. Deji Olatunya said the association had become integrated into the communities through town hall meetings and direct engagements with stakeholders.

Olatunya said the consultations enabled the group to understand the root causes of challenges confronting each community and identify practical interventions.

He said executing strategic projects highlighted in the group’s document would improve residents’ standard of living, encourage tax compliance and promote economic development.

He added that the densely populated border communities possess significant electoral value and that the association’s grassroots structure could support mobilisation and town hall engagements.

In his response, Adeola commended the association for its research and community-centred recommendations, describing it as an important contribution to the future of the state.

He said the sharp infrastructural difference between Lagos and Ogun, particularly after the Long Bridge on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, shows the urgent need for coordinated planning of border communities.

The lawmaker disclosed that work had commenced on a new 30-year master plan for Ogun State, which is expected to be completed in about 18 months.

According to him, the master plan will provide a clear framework for what he described as “the birth of a new Ogun State” and will guide the establishment of new residential and commercial clusters, modern transportation networks and essential public facilities.

“We cannot continue to govern without a functional master plan. Development must be properly coordinated, and adequate infrastructure must be provided if our people are to experience the true presence of government,” he said.

Adeola said his administration would work towards opening up Tongeji Island, strengthening the state’s participation in the exploitation of its mineral resources and ensuring that companies operating in the state contribute meaningfully to its development.

He, therefore, requested the association to nominate a three-member committee to work directly with his policy team to align its recommendations with his manifesto and economic blueprint.