The proposed Inland Dry Port (IDP) at Kajola-Papalanto project by Ogun State government will be of immense benefit to all and sundry in the state.
It would be recalled that the state government proposed the siting of a standard IDP at Papalanto, Olorunsogo in Ewekoro Local Government Area, in collaboration with Arise Group, in 2023.
Commissioner for Transportation, Engr. Gbenga Dairo, gave the assurance at a stakeholders’ engagement meeting at Papalanto, revealing that the location of the project was carefully chosen and considered as the best option, due to its comparative advantage, as the standard gauge rail intercepts with the narrow gauge rail, which has its routes upward to Apapa Seaport in Lagos.
Engr. Dairo enjoined residents of the area to brace up for the emerging opportunities in that sector, saying it was high time they encouraged their wards to study relevant courses in transport and maritime.
“When this project becomes fully operational, considerations will be given to indigents who have relevant requisite, as they will be fully engaged”, he said.
The Commissioner promised that due diligence would be observed in compensating people whose properties fall within the land allocated for the project.
Speaking, the Federal Controller of Works in the state, Engr. Mrs. Forosola Oloyede, said the Federal Government through its Ministry of Works was directly involved in the project, as the agency was poised to fix federal roads along the project’s corridor, noting that good road network would aid business activities and allow easy movement of vehicles along the axis.
Earlier, the Project Engineer in the state Ministry, Engr., Olatunde Philips, said the proposed 600 hectares of land for the project would cover areas that include, Abese, Soderu and Olorunsogo villages.
Remarking, the Southwest Director of the Nigeria Shippers Council, Mr. Moses Fadipe, who described the approval from the Federal Government as unprecedented, hinted that government had a policy of situating a maximum of one IDP in each of the geo- political zones of the country, advising community leaders in the area to support government in completing the project.
Other stakeholders at the meeting were the Vice-Chairman of Ewekoro Local Government, Hon. Sunkanmi Olabode, A rise Group representative, Mr. Manoj Kumar, the Onipapa of Papalanto, Oba Rasak Famuyiwa, Elejio of Ejio, Oba Olusesan Ogunmuyiwa, among others.
